Keeping Food Fresh

Have you ever reached for brown sugar and discovered it was an icky rock? Maybe you’ve poured a bowl of cereal and it tasted staler than last week’s news. Perhaps your biggest problem is biting into a chip, only to find that it has developed a consistency more like a rubber balloon than a crispy wafer. The problem with all of these foods? You weren’t able to keep them fresh.

Photo: SXC

So, how do you keep food fresh? Well, using a vacuum sealer can really help. I have a Pump ‘N Seal, but there are models in the grocery store for just a few dollars that can seal plastic snack bags.

Another thing you can try is making sure you re-close items as securely as possible. Roll down bags and use a clip to keep them tightly closed. If you don’t have chip clips, use a rubber band.

Torn bag? Try transferring the contents to a jar with a seal around the lid. I don’t know why, but snack bags don’t seem to keep my chips fresh as long as a jar will.

Do you have any tips for keeping food fresh until you can use it up?