When you’re daydreaming about the delectable snacks that are waiting for you in your kitchen, it’s hard not to envision them looking as delicious as they taste. That usually means munching on them right away without any concerns of how long they’ve been sitting around or what impact their age might have on their freshness.
Unfortunately, the reality of less-than-fresh snacks is a harsh one. When you bought that bag of snacks in Singapore that you thought was going to be fresh for at least another snack or two, you’re likely to eat your way through the entire package as quickly as possible.
One big reason is that we’re simply snacking too much. The second is that we don’t understand how to keep our snacks fresh, so we buy more than we need to. If you want them to taste as good as the day they were purchased, keep them fresh with these simple tricks:
Keep Your Snacks in the Freezer
Keeping your snacks in the freezer is one of the best ways to keep them fresh. While it may seem counter-intuitive, putting items like cheese sticks, grapes, berries, and sliced meat in the freezer can actually prevent their spoilage for weeks or months at a time!
This works because air causes food to dry out, but when your snacks are kept in the freezer fresh air can’t get to them.
Toss Some Rice in Your Snack Bag
Another easy trick is to include a small bag of uncooked rice with your snacks. The rice acts like an absorbent sponge, soaking up extra moisture that causes food to spoil quickly. After 4-7 days, just toss the rice and start fresh. This works great with apples and other fruit snacks.
Store Your Snacks in Tightly Sealed Containers
If air can get into your food storage containers and bags, then air and moisture will eventually find their way to your snacks. Air and moisture are food’s enemies as they make the snack dry, stale and tasteless.
If you bought popcorn snacks in Singapore for example, make sure to store them in tightly sealed containers that prevent air from entering and extend their shelf life. Containers with locking mechanisms or rubber gaskets are ideal for this purpose.
Avoid Exposure to Air, Light and Heat
If there’s air, light and heat nearby, then there’s moisture to cause your snacks to spoil. Make an effort to keep them away from air, light and heat as much as possible, whether it be the air conditioning or your pantry lamp.
Store Your Snacks at Room Temperature
If you have the time, store foods at room temperature for a few hours before eating them or refrigerating them. This step is especially useful for snacks that have a long shelf life and don’t require immediate refrigeration.
However, this trick does not apply to foods with short expiration dates such as fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products.
Store Your Snacks in the Refrigerator
In general, it’s best to keep all snacks that you plan to eat within the next few days in the fridge. Refrigerating them extends their shelf life and preserves their flavor and texture. However, make sure not to store your food too far from the fridge’s temperature; it has an optimum temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 degrees Celsius).
Store Them in Oxygen Absorbing Packets
Get packets of food storage bags with oxygen absorber sachets and use them to keep your snacks fresh longer. Oxygen absorbers are non-toxic, so they won’t hurt you or your snack’s taste. They simply remove all the oxygen molecules from the package of your food to slow down its decomposition process.
When you’re planning on bringing snacks with you, be they in your kid’s lunch or in a bag for an outing in the park with friends, follow the tips mentioned above for keeping them fresh and delicious.
