Like most Latinas, I have a jar of tomato paste sitting in my fridge. I use it all the time, in my soups in my stews and on those rare occasions when I feel like making something guisado. The problem is, half way through the week I have to dump whatever tomato paste I have in the fridge and replace it with a new can because this stuff gets nasty and moldy quicker than you'd ever imagine. I was just about to give up on tomato paste all together until I tried one of my abuelita's old tricks!
Read more ¿Qué más?: You've been cutting tomatoes the WRONG way all this time
Abuela's tomato paste never goes moldy because she always pours a layer of olive oil over it. It doesn't just preserve it but it gives it a richer taste too–total life saver! It's ridiculous how much food I've had to throw out because it goes bad before my fiance and I even get a chance to eat it. So these days I'm using a few tips and tricks to get my groceries to last as long as possible!
Image via Pinterest.com
Herbs
I used to have a love/hate relationship with cilantro. I was constantly buying new bunches, almost on a weekly basis because I couldn't get them to stay fresh in my fridge. Now I bunch them like flowers and tie them at the base using a rubber band. Then I place them into a plastic bag and add another plastic bag on top to prevent air from getting in. Genius, right?
Onions
I used to think that storing onions in the fridge was the best way to preserve them, but apparently I was wrong. If you place them in pantyhose they stay good for months. I'm talking months!
Scallions
Like most greens, scallions can easily go bad after a week. Try chopping them, storing them in a water bottle and leaving them in the fridge.
Potatoes
So get this, if you add an apple (or two) to a bag of potatoes it prevents them from budding. Who would have guessed, right?
Fruits & veggies
A good way to keep your fruits and veggies fresh is to make sure they're stored well and dry. I like adding a piece of paper towel to my tupperware or my zipblock bags. It helps absorb any natural moisture your produce might have so they don't welt and sog.
Sugar
Add a few marshmellows to your sugar to keep it fresh and soft!
Onions & peppers
I keep my onions, tomatoes and peppers fresh by turning them into a sofrito. All I do is chop them up, cook them in a little olive oil and then store then in a glass jar in my freezer.
