Official advice ends debate over what to keep in the fridge
Put eggs and parsnips in the fridge but leave onions and potatoes in the cupboard, according to new government guidance that should settle age-old rows in kitchens about putting the shopping away.
Bread is best left in a cupboard while grapes should be kept in the fridge where they will last longer. "Bendy parsnips" should be kept in the fridge and will "soon perk up" if slices are chopped from each end.
The new guidance on how to store food safely has been published by Wrap, the Government's food waste watchdog, amid concerns that households have started to waste more food now that the lockdown is easing.
Wrap said it hoped its guidance would "encourage people to keep up their pre-shop planning, smart storage, and creative cooking, as well as explaining the crucial impact this will have on the planet, as well as the cost of their food shop".
Research in June found that that although people have found ways to manage their food better, "self-reported waste" has increased by 30 per cent compared to the early stages of lockdown.
The tips - published in an A to Z guide on Wrap's LoveFoodHateWaste website - could finally mean that arguments in families over where to keep foods and stop it going off.
While some of it might appear obvious to Telegraph readers familiar with how to run their kitchens, the tips will be seized on by young people living alone wanting to get the most from their groceries.
Among products that should be kept in the fridge are eggs - "best kept in their box to protect them" - and parsnips, which can then be frozen after being blanched in boiling water.
Aubergines also should be kept in the fridge, but can be frozen too as long as they are sliced and grilled beforehand to stop them "going mushy".
Also best stored in the fridge are apples and pears - although they can be frozen if they are cut into slices and "quickly cooked in boiling water" first. A definite no-no for the fridge are bananas, which must be kept "somewhere nice and cool, in a cupboard or on the side, ideally in their original packaging. Bananas will go black in the fridge."
Other foods destined for the cupboard include red, brown and white onions that "are best stored in a cool, dry, dark place, ideally in a cloth bag". Spring onions should be kept in the fridge though.
Potatoes too should be left "in a cool, dry, dark place, ideally in a cloth bag and away from strong-smelling foods like onions", according to the guidance.
There are also tips on household budgeting, suggesting buying a big block of hard cheese "to make the most of a store bargain" before grating it and freezing it to eat later. Fizzy drinks should be bought in smaller quantities to avoid waste, while "soft drinks that have gone flat are great for freezing into ice lollies".
Wine is best stored "in a cool dark place or in the fridge once opened", the guidance says, adding - perhaps optimistically - that households can "freeze leftover wine in ice cube trays then store in an airtight container" if there is any left.
DO's - and DON'Ts
Always store your apples in the fridge - they will last longer than if left out in a fruit bowl
Eggs should be stored in the fridge
Unopened jars of sauce can be eaten up to three years after the "best before" end date
Leftover cooked rice can be kept in the fridge for a day - always reheat until piping hot
For best taste, take tomatoes out of the fridge up to 24 hours before eating
Store your potatoes in a cloth bag and away from strong-smelling foods like onions
Once opened, mayonnaise should be resealed and stored in the fridge
Bananas should be kept somewhere nice and cool, in a cupboard or on the side. They will go black in the fridge.
