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In scorching summer days, the heat becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, causing food to spoil quickly. So, how can you preserve your fresh food during summer? Dive into this article to discover detailed information.
1. Clean Cooking Utensils Thoroughly After Use
After usage, it's crucial to wash cooking utensils to prevent cross-contamination. Additionally, avoid using the same utensils for raw and cooked food. For instance, refrain from using the same cutting board for raw meat and cooked food.
2. Wash Hands Before Handling or Preparing Food
Before handling or preparing food, ensure your hands are thoroughly clean to prevent bacterial contamination, which can lead to nutrient loss or rapid food spoilage. Especially when dealing with raw food, always wash your hands beforehand.
3. Tips for Preserving Cooked Food
- Boil or reheat leftover or cold food.
- Separate different types of food for storage; avoid mixing them together.
- Use covered containers to prevent bacterial contamination.
- If food has been boiled once, consume it immediately without boiling it repeatedly.
- For soups, refrigerate them within 24 hours. For braised and salty dishes, do not store for more than 3 days.
- To prevent fried dishes from drying out, soak them in oil. Also, immediately refrigerate the food after cooking, once it has boiled, then let it cool down.
- If you don't have a refrigerator, store food in an ice chest.
- Avoid using cooked food that has changed color or developed a strange odor.
4. Tips for Freezing Food
Many families have the habit of grocery shopping once a week to buy enough food for the entire week. Therefore, preserving frozen food to maintain its freshness and nutritional value is something users need to pay attention to. Consider the following tips for freezing food:
Thoroughly wash and drain the food before placing it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
Divide various types of foods such as meat, seafood, etc., into small portions for convenient thawing, minimizing the risk of repeated thawing, which can lead to spoilage.
Seal the containers holding frozen food tightly to prevent them from leaking in the freezer.
Fresh raw food, when stored in a freezing environment, can remain fresh for up to 1 year if the temperature conditions are between -180°C to -300°C or 18 months at -360°C. Experts warn that prolonged freezing can cause enzymes to undergo chemical changes, leading to food deterioration.
For meats like lamb, goat, and beef, store them for 7 to 10 days. For pork, duck, and chicken, the storage period is 7 days, while fish remains fresh for 3 days.
Above are the methods to keep your food fresh and delicious during the summer days that you need to know. Save them for reference and application. Don't forget to follow Mytour for quick updates on the most useful information.
