Cooking too much food, so left over? You must be worried that the dish will go stale. Usually, the way to store food so it doesn’t go stale is to put it in the refrigerator.
However, you shouldn’t just put it in the fridge. There is a special treatment so that the food does not go stale easily. This is because without proper treatment, food remains easily damaged even though it has been in the refrigerator.
Proper food processing and storage techniques affect the shelf life of food. Maybe this goes unnoticed, so it gets stale quickly. To avoid this, here are tips to prevent spoiled food.
Pay attention to the correct way of storing foodstuffs
The use of food ingredients that are not in a fresh condition can make your food stale quickly. Usually people store food in the refrigerator. However, without good settings, it can still get damaged quickly. The tip is to group according to type. Do not mix vegetables with raw meat or chicken. Store meat separately in an airtight container.
In addition, pay attention to the temperature of the refrigerator. If it’s not cold enough, it certainly makes the food not perfectly durable and easily damaged. It’s a good idea to check the temperature by using an external thermometer.
If you store food in the refrigerator in large quantities, it’s best to leave a cavity on each side. This is to ensure that all foods receive adequate cooling.
Put it in a dry place and avoid exposure to the sun
You need to remember that bacteria love moist places. That is why, it is better to store food in a dry place. Thus, it can minimize bacterial contamination. In addition, it is better to avoid direct sunlight. This is because sunlight causes evaporation. It can also affect foods that contain fat or oil, so that they decrease in quality and get musty easily. Sunlight can also make fruits and vegetables wilt easily. If this happens, the quality of the food will decrease and spoil easily.
Avoid Leaving the Cuisine Uncovered
Food that is left open will be contaminated with air and bacteria. Not to mention the attack of flies that can reduce its quality. This open food spoils faster, due to the contamination of dirt and bacteria.
If the food is hot, place it in a serving hood that has pores. However, if the food is cold, immediately close it tightly to avoid contamination.
How to save food so it doesn’t go bad by heating it
Your food left and will be stored in the refrigerator? Preheat the food. The goal is to kill the bacteria present, so it doesn’t cause spoilage. Bring the food to a boil until it boils evenly. As for seasoned food, you can add a little water, then heat it until the water shrinks again. Thus, the heat is evenly distributed, but not scorched.
You need to remember that heating food as long as it is warm, but not completely boiling, actually causes bacteria to easily multiply. Of course, this condition can actually make it stale quickly.
Avoid stirring or poking the food you have heated
Poking or scooping heated food can make it go stale quickly. Better to take it first, then boil it again.
You should also always use a clean spoon to scoop out the food. Using a dirty spoon causes cross-contamination. This allows spoilage bacteria to thrive and causes food to go stale.
Wait until it’s cold, then close it
Food must be in a closed condition. However, avoid immediately closing the container tightly, if the food is still hot. If you do, it will make it stale quickly. When you cover hot food, condensation will form from the steam. This is what makes it contaminated with bacteria that cause it to spoil quickly.
When heating food, wait for it to cool completely, then transfer it to a container. Then you can put it in the fridge. Do not forget to give a date label, to know the shelf life.
Store in an airtight container
Storing food in the refrigerator also requires certain techniques, namely by using airtight containers. Do not mix it, but place it in a different container. When using plastic, it’s a good idea to reduce the air as much as possible. You can also use a vacuum, so you can minimize the air content. Thus, the bacterial content is also reduced.
Do not leave food at room temperature, more than 2-4 hours
Being at room temperature for a long time will make food easily contaminated with bacteria. Therefore, it is better not to leave it for more than 2-4 hours. If there is still left, it is better to heat it immediately, or store in the refrigerator. You can also anticipate by cooking in sufficient portions and approaching meal times. So the food is served fresh.
If you must store it at room temperature, be sure to store it in a tightly closed container. Because, apart from laying eggs on food, flies are also a medium for spreading bacteria.
Don’t Save Directly in Large Amount
You want to store food in the refrigerator in large quantities? It’s best to divide it in small portions first. By saving them in per-serving size, you don’t have to take out and insert repeatedly.
Fluctuating temperatures make food go stale quickly, even if you store it in the refrigerator. This also applies to the food you put in the refrigerator door. when opened and closed, the temperature had changed.
Understand the Characteristics of Foods Containing Coconut Milk and Milk
These two ingredients provide a savory and delicious taste to food. However, coconut milk and milk contain fat that can make food spoil quickly. If you stir food frequently, or scoop it up with a dirty spoon, it usually creates small bubbles. In this condition, the taste of the coconut milk food turns sour.
The cause is bacteria that begin to multiply and make food ferment, so stale. In the end, you have to throw away the coconut milk or milk-containing food. So, you should often heat foods containing coconut milk or milk, to kill bacteria. If you put it in the refrigerator, too, you should use a container, not just a plastic bag.