Fresh meal kits are a convenient way to prepare daily meals. But when you buy them in bulk, it’s important to know how to properly store them for a longer lifespan.
Beyond trying to get the best value through costs, you want to maximize each kit instead of simply stacking them in the pantry. The question is, how can you do so?
Here’s how you can store fresh meal kits to make sure they’re safe to eat even after a while!
Check the Ingredients
One of the first things you should do after receiving your meal kit is to check the ingredients. You want to know if it contains anything that spoils quickly, especially when you get fully prepared meals.
The ingredients of your meal kits usually dictate how and when you should store them. So, it’s crucial to consider this before anything else, unless you decide to eat the meals on the same day you receive them.
Keep Them in the Fridge
Many recommend storing fresh meal kits in the fridge or freezer to lengthen their shelf life. It helps because it slows any changes that occur to the food.
A quick tip is to keep them on the shelf instead of the door. The temperatures in your fridge will differ from location to location. So, you want to keep highly perishable food where there’s less exposure to fluctuating temperatures.
Use Airtight Containers
You can keep fully prepared meals in the fridge with the original packaging. But to get the most out of it, consider moving the contents to airtight containers.
Doing so allows you to store the food in more places without worrying too much about the conditions around it. At the same time, it helps you save on space.
A few common options you can consider include glass jars, resealable bags, and containers with airtight lids.
Let Hot Food Cool
If you purchase fully prepared meals, they may arrive hot upon delivery. If this is the case, you should remember to give them time to cool before storing them in the fridge.
It’s one way to reduce the chances of condensation, which can make your food soggy and potentially spoil it faster. Since it requires you to open up every meal kit, you want to consider moving it to a different container as well.
Consider Expiration Dates
Note down the expiration or best-before dates written on every meal kit. Keep in mind that these give you an idea of how long you have before fresh meals spoil.
Although there are expiration dates, you should still consider what ingredients it contains or how the food is prepared. This way, you can determine the best way to extend their shelf life without damaging the quality or taste.