Store in individual breathable wire meshes baskets.[2][3]
Stock –Broth/ Cubes
Low salt, low-fat and low calorie varieties
Store liquid broth and solid stock cubes away from heat, moisture, sunlight, and at constant temperature. Once opened: broth must be stored in a sealed container and refrigerated. [4]
Spaghetti sauce
Low salt, low-fat varieties
Pick tomato-based sauce over cream (i.e. Alfredo) and pesto sauce varieties.
Once opened: Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.[3][5]
Dry pasta
Whole-wheat pasta
Store in original packaging.Once opened: store in a tightly closed container. [6]
Dry Beans
Store in original packaging. Once opened: place in an airtight container. [7]
Rice
Brown rice, wild rice, bulgur or pearl barley
Store unopened rice in its original packaging. Once opened: store in a clean, airtight container. [7]
Canned items (i.e. tuna/ tomatoes)
Tomatoes- no salt/ less sodium varieties.Tuna- water-packed options; eat in moderation to avoid too much mercury intake. For a better explanation why mercury is present in tuna click here.
Discard if unopened cans are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented. Once opened: place food in a clean covered plastic or glass container, store in the refrigerator.[3][4]
Bread
Brown, wholemeal
Store freshly baked bread in a paper bag and sliced bread in original plastic bag [8].
Peanut Butter
Low salt, less sweet options
Once opened: is fine on the shelf but can be kept in the refrigerator to extend shelf life.[9]
Milk
Low fat, skim milk
Long life milk can be stored out of the fridge, unopened for 6 months. Once opened: store like you would fresh milk in the refrigerator.[10]
Eggs
Egg whites
When purchasing: Check eggs before purchase: avoid cracked & dirty looking eggs. Store in their carton in the pantry or toward the back of the fridge where it is coldest.[1]
Purchase the product before date of expiry. Refrigerate promptly after purchase.[1]
Cheese
Low fat and reduced salt options. Choose hard cheese over cream cheese. If consuming cream cheese, choose fat-free or low fat options.
Place in original wrapper where possible and refrigerate. To maintain flavour, store fresh cheese in a covered container to protect from strong odors. Harmless mould may develop on hard cheese (i.e. cheddar) and can simply be cut off along with 2cm of cheese around the mould. However, if the mould is orange or black in color, cheese should be discarded.[11]
Always store foods in the coolest cabinets away from the oven, water heater, dishwasher or any hot pipes
Despite long shelf life and advertised special prices, buy only what you expect to use within the recommended storage times. Excess foods may become waste
To prevent deterioration of foods that are removed from their original packaging, store in appropriate metal, glass or plastic containers
Check the expiration date of foods. Always throw out damaged cans, without tasting the food first
Keep containers and can foods clean and free of dust
Treat storage areas for pests and clean the pantry periodically to remove food particles
Follow the "first in, first out" policy, meaning that you rotate items so that older items are used first
Refrigerator
Always store meats, poultry, eggs, fish and dairy products in the coldest section
Do not overload the refrigerator
Clean the refrigerator to remove spills and spoilt food
Store foods in airtight wraps or containers to prevent food from drying out and maintain quality
Avoid using containers and plastic bags not made for storage
Do not reuse plastic bags originally contaminated with raw meats, poultry or fish
When storing raw meats, wrap securely and place on a plate to prevent juices from dripping and contaminating other food
Always rotate frozen foods; use the oldest first for best flavour and quality
Type the words “Quick and easy meals using common pantry staples” in the search engine. Or visit www.recipematcher.com to find recipes by ingredients that you have at home.
Prepare a large batch of your favorite/ chosen recipe (e.g. double/ triple the recipe). Refrigerate or freeze foods in covered shallow (less than 3 inch deep) containers. Label food storage container with the date so that foods can be used within a safe time frame.
Make a second meal/ side dish using left overs by adding items you already have at home, and by doing so, stretch your dollar. For example, use leftover pasta Bolognese sauce to create shepherd’s pie or pizza bread; and use left over pasta to add a delicious body to soup.
