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After the Lunar New Year, homemakers are always concerned about preserving excess food. Improper storage can lead to rapid spoilage, especially with the approaching damp weather...
1. Smart Tips for Preserving Food in the Fridge After the Lunar New Year Break Without Spoilage
After the Lunar New Year, preserving excess food is always a concern for homemakers. Improper storage can lead to rapid spoilage, especially with the approaching damp weather.
After the Lunar New Year, homemakers are always concerned about preserving excess food - Illustration: Image
Below are some ways to preserve surplus food after the Lunar New Year that you should consider.
For cakes with white mold and sour smell (especially at the corners) on the outer crust, it's necessary to cut off the moldy and fermented parts and only use the unaffected portion.
There are various types of sausages: pork sausage, beef sausage, pig's ear sausage, stir-fried sausage... and they should all be kept at temperatures below 25°C for preservation.
When properly preserved, sausages can last for 4-6 days if stored in the fridge, even up to about 10 days if kept in the freezer. For frozen meat dishes, it's advisable to divide them into small portions, just enough for each meal, for preservation in the fridge.
Food meant to be consumed on the same day
During the Tet holiday, as every household indulges in a variety of dishes, it's crucial to properly store food meant for consumption on the same day. For foods intended to be eaten on the same day, depending on the weather conditions, we should not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Leftover foods from meals should be reheated, allowed to cool, and then stored in the fridge.
If hot food is placed directly into the refrigerator, where the temperature is low, the food will deteriorate, with water in the food condensing into vapor, promoting the growth of harmful bacteria leading to food poisoning.
When eating, food must be thoroughly cooked again before consumption because the temperature in the refrigerator only inhibits the growth of bacteria without being able to kill them.
Fresh produce
For leftover vegetables and fruits after Tet, these are highly perishable fresh foods. If you want to preserve them longer, do not wash them but instead remove damaged leaves, crush leaves, discard spoiled parts, and cut off the roots to store in a cool place. If storing in the fridge, wash the vegetables thoroughly, drain water, put them in a sealed plastic bag, and place the bag in the fridge (5°C).
Similarly for fruits, wash and let them dry. Then wrap them in newspaper and put them in a sealed bag before storing in the fridge for preservation. Wrapping in newspaper will help keep the fruits fresh longer without ripening all at once.
Frozen foods
Due to the fear of expensive and scarce food after Tet, many families stockpile various meats, shrimps, fish... in the freezer before Tet, so after Tet, there may be leftovers. For frozen foods, only thaw an amount sufficient for consumption, do not thaw the entire batch. Especially for meats, once thawed, they must be consumed entirely and should not be refrozen as it allows bacteria to proliferate.
When cooking frozen foods, use the items purchased earlier first, then the ones purchased later, to avoid keeping frozen foods for too long, as cooking them may result in loss of taste and nutrients.
Regularly clean the refrigerator
The refrigerator, used to store food, is also a haven for high levels of bacteria. Therefore, regularly cleaning and wiping the refrigerator will create a ventilated environment, preventing bacteria buildup that could spoil food and have adverse effects on family health.
After cleaning, use vinegar or lemon juice to eliminate odors in the refrigerator. Avoid unnecessary opening of the refrigerator door as it allows external bacteria to easily contaminate the food inside, leading to wasted energy consumption.
