Hey, typically you don't see the high-quality print "refrigerate after opening" on the jar's label. Or, you grew up with the peanut butter within the pantry and by no means thought something of it. However we're adults now, and we could be smarter about how we retailer issues.

If you happen to preserve these frequent components refrigerated or frozen, you'll minimize down on meals waste and preserve these kitchen staples brisker longer—particularly in case you're shopping for in bulk.

Nuts

The pure oils in nuts can flip rancid when uncovered to heat temperatures, giving them an unpleasantly stale style. And when uncovered to moisture, nuts can harbor unsafe micro organism as properly. Retailer them within the freezer in an hermetic container for as much as a yr. This goes for tree nuts, peanuts and seeds like pine nuts too.

Maple Syrup

If you happen to're shopping for pure maple syrup and never a kind of sugary "pancake syrup" blends, do your self a favor and preserve it within the fridge. The chilly temperatures inhibit mildew development and preserve the flavour contemporary.

Chilly-Pressed Oils

To delay the shelf lifetime of oils labeled "cold-pressed," preserve them within the fridge. Due to the low-heat technique used to extract the oil, they could spoil at heat temperatures. If the oil will get cloudy when chilled, that's high-quality—simply take the bottle out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature earlier than utilizing.

Infused Olive Oil

Garlic-infused olive oil might need a beautiful style, however it will possibly additionally develop harmful botulism when saved at room temperature, based on the USDA. To be as protected as potential, the USDA recommends storing infused oil within the fridge for as much as seven days, or freezing. Thaw within the fridge earlier than utilizing in recipes.

Cured Meats

Sealed cured meats could also be displayed on the grocery store at room temperature, however as soon as opened, they need to go straight into the fridge. Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic to maintain air away from the meat, and retailer within the cheese drawer or one other spot away from gentle.

Fish Sauce

Whereas fish sauce can technically be saved for as much as six months in a cool, darkish place, heat temperatures are usually not its pal: gasoline can construct up contained in the bottle. Hold the pungent liquid capped within the fridge to forestall any unlucky smells from penetrating the pantry.

Mustard

Whether or not complete grain, Dijon or your favourite selection, mustard gained't keep its robust taste for greater than a month at room temperature after the jar's been opened. Maintaining it within the fridge will assist that taste final for as much as a yr.

Peanut Butter

Like complete nuts, the pure oils in peanut butter and different nut butters can go stale and rancid when left within the pantry. The cool temps of the fridge is not going to solely preserve these merchandise contemporary, but in addition assist stabilize these oils so that you gained't must stir them again in as regularly.

Bread

Sick of bread going stale earlier than you possibly can end the loaf? Hold it within the freezer! Wrap complete or pre-sliced loaves in wax paper and foil to forestall them from drying out—this goes for all sorts of breads, from sourdough boules to baguettes to bagels. Frozen bread thaws shortly within the fridge, or just toast slices or items immediately from the freezer.

Chocolate

Storing blocks or bars of chocolate within the fridge or freezer can assist delay their shelf life, however watch out. Chocolate shouldn’t be uncovered to moisture, so wrap it very properly and ensure it's in an hermetic container. Thaw frozen chocolate within the fridge, then convey it to room temperature earlier than utilizing in recipes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

You would possibly preserve cookie dough within the freezer to bake up everytime you get a craving, however you can too stash baked cookies in there for snacking. Cool the cookies fully earlier than sealing in an hermetic container, they usually'll keep as contemporary because the minute they first got here out of the oven. No dry and crumbly leftover sweets on this home!