A large share of the food produced in the US is never eaten, and households are one of the biggest sources of that waste. The EPA has practical tips on preventing wasted food at home. Wasting less saves money and is also the simplest way to make your kitchen more sustainable. Plan before you shop … Read more
You buy a bunch of cilantro for one recipe, and a week later it is a slimy mess in the fridge drawer. Fresh herbs are among the most wasted foods. Storing them properly and having a few ways to use them up solves the problem. Soft herbs vs hardy herbs Herbs fall into two groups … Read more
Preserving food lets you keep a summer harvest, buy in bulk or simply waste less. Every method works by slowing down or stopping the microorganisms and enzymes that spoil food: by removing heat, water or air, or by adding acid, salt or sugar. Freezing The easiest method for most foods. Freezing at 0°F (-18°C) stops … Read more
Yes, you can freeze eggs, but never in their shells. The liquid inside expands when it freezes and the shell cracks, which can let bacteria in. Out of the shell, raw eggs freeze well for up to about a year. Freezing whole eggs Freezing egg whites Egg whites freeze beautifully, with no preparation. Freeze them … Read more
Yes, you can freeze cheese, and it remains safe. The catch is texture. Freezing forms ice crystals that break up the cheese’s structure, so most cheeses become more crumbly after thawing. That makes frozen cheese better for cooking than for a cheese board. Cheeses that freeze well Cheeses that do not freeze well How to … Read more
Bacon is cured, so it lasts a little longer than fresh pork, but it is still perishable. The USDA’s storage chart gives these guidelines: Sell-by, use-by, best-by Dates on meat packaging are mostly about quality, not safety, with the exception of infant formula. A “sell-by” date tells the store how long to display the product; … Read more
Leftover pizza is safe in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, as long as it went into the fridge within 2 hours of being delivered or baked. That is the standard USDA guidance for cooked leftovers, and pizza with meat, cheese and sauce is no exception. What about pizza left out overnight? It is … Read more
The short answer: no more than 2 hours at room temperature, and only 1 hour if it is hotter than 90°F (32°C), for example at a picnic or in a hot car. After that, throw it away, even if it looks and smells fine. Why two hours? Bacteria such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium … Read more
