Produce Freshness Balls
Some fruits and vegetables (like apples) produce ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process. Each Bluapple ball ($12 for a set of two) contains a packet that absorbs ethylene gas and extends the life of your produce. Just pop one among your apples, avocados and bananas to extend freshness.
Why it made our list: This investment will help protect expensive ethylene-sensitive produce, like avocados and bell peppers.
Produce Saver Containers
Having fruits and vegetables go bad before you have a chance to eat them is a common problem. FreshWorks containers ($27) make your produce last longer thanks to a crisping tray in the bottom that keeps moisture away. (Don’t miss these produce mistakes you didn’t know you were making.)
Why it made our list: This dependable Rubbermaid product has more than 1,000 positive reviews on Amazon!
Potato Preserving Bag
You won’t have to throw out spoiled potatoes anymore thanks to this potato bag ($21). The breathable blackout lining and drawstring closure help create the cool, dark and dry environment potatoes love. We also love that it can be hung from a hook, or placed on a shelf. (And remember, potatoes should never be stored with onions.)
Why it made our list: This bag is made from hessian fabric, also known as burlap—a sustainable natural material.
Onion, Tomato and Garlic Savers
Leftover ingredients often get thrown in wasteful plastic bags, put back in the refrigerator and forgotten. Instead, save your partially used onions, garlic, and tomatoes in this food saver set ($26), which includes four reusable containers, each shaped as the food they are meant to store. (Plus, check out this guide of how to store every type of leftover food.)
Why it made our list: This set will preserve leftovers—and contain stinky food odors to keep your refrigerator fresh.
Lettuce Keeper
If you know the frustration of throwing out a bag of lettuce before you even get the chance to eat it, than you need a lettuce keeper ($33). This hard-working container has an adjustable vent for optimal air circulation, and a reservoir at the bottom to catch excess water.
Why it made our list: You can wash your lettuce right in the container!
Silicone Food Huggers
Step away from the plastic wrap! These reusable Food Huggers ($13) are the perfection solution for half-eaten produce. Simply press the fruit or vegetable into the silicone Food Hugger and watch as it wraps snugly around the edges and keeps it fresh.
Why it made our list: This nifty invention helps us cut back on using plastic wrap, foil and plastic bags.
Debbie Meyer GreenBoxes
More than 1,000 Amazon reviewers agree: the GreenBoxes ($20) really do work! They’re made to reduce ethylene gas, making fruits and vegetables last longer in your fridge or on your counter.
Why it made our list: This set of GreenBoxes is a smart replacement for regular plastic storage containers.
Bread Box
There’s a reason bread boxes have been around since the 1800s! Keep bread fresh for longer in a bamboo bread box ($30). The moisture from the bread raises the humidity in the box, but the lid isn’t airtight, which means air circulation can keep it from getting too moist. The result is the perfect environment for fresh bread.
Why it made our list: We tested this bread box to see if it kept bread fresher than storing it in a plastic bag. It worked!
Herb Saver
No more wilted herbs! Save those fresh herbs from the threat of being thrown out with an herb saver ($16). Place herbs into the pod and close the clear cover, then add fresh water to the reservoir. It could extend the life of your herbs for up to three weeks!
Why it made our list: We love cooking with fresh herbs but don’t love throwing out what we don’t have time to use. This is the ideal solution.
Dry Goods Containers
Neat rows of clear containers not only make your pantry look beautiful and organized, they also help your dry ingredients last longer and reduce the chances you’ll have to throw out items that have gone bad. We love this OXO Good Grips set ($100) because each container has a “pop” lid that guarantees freshness. Simply push the button to engage an airtight seal.
Why it made our list: The containers in this set are stackable, making it easy to organize your pantry space.
The post 10 Kitchen Products That Will Help You Stop Wasting Food appeared first on Taste of Home.
Erica Young