As a staggering 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted globally each year, Wren Kitchens has looked at the most searched-for food storage queries.
Storage hacks can help Britons elongate the use-by date of their commonly eaten foods and minimise bacterial growth, contamination and food waste.
According to the data, people are mostly confused about where to store essentials. However, Wren Kitchens has spoken to food hygiene experts at Electronic Temperature Instruments (ETI) and Navitas Safety to settle the debate and encourage safe storage.
Jason Webb, managing director of ETI, said many people are storing their eggs incorrectly in their fridge doors leading to potential health risks and wastage.
Webb said: “Eggs are recommended to be stored within fridges at around four degrees Celsius to remain fresh and safe to consume.
“However, storing eggs within frequently opened and closed fridge door storage trays, can lead to a fluctuation and rise in temperature, accelerating egg spoilage.
“With this constant temperature disruption, eggs will rise in temperature away from the optimum four degrees Celsius, and if continuous, it can pose the risk of bacteria such as salmonella,” and the same happens with milk.
Meanwhile, Darren Watts at Wren Kitchens advised on effective storage to avoid cross-contamination and organised drawers and fridges.
Watts said: “Categorise your produce and place into separate boxes to ensure no cross contamination and easy access.
“This is a great storage solution for those with busy family or work lives, who want an efficient food storage solution.
“Another tip is to always label and replace your food. When leading a busy life, it is easy to forget when items were bought, and which may be past their sell-by date. Labelling foods will ensure a clean and bacteria-free zone.
“It’s also recommended to have both a pantry and a larder for different foods. This doesn’t need to be complex or expensive, but simply dedicating certain storage areas for specific foods will help to keep food fresh for longer.”
