What To Store Products In - How To Choose Packaging

In order for the products to be stored for a long time , in addition to the correct temperature regime and air humidity, you also need to think about the packaging . It should take into account the properties of the product and the conditions in which it will be stored .

Food packaging must simultaneously protect products from drying out, from absorbing extraneous odors and access to oxygen, which supports biochemical processes and accelerates spoilage.

Let's look at what you can store food in and if there are any features you need to know.

A polyethylene bag is a good packaging for storing most products . However, do not forget that plastic bags are different. Polyethylene bags, in which non-food products are packed , are not, in principle, intended for food storage . Non-food grade polyethylene can emit toxic substances, even in small doses, so it is forbidden to store food in it. However, plastic bags in which products are sold can be used without fear: grocery stores must have a safety certificate on them. For food packaging , buy special bags marked "for food ".

What is better to store: fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish, meat, smoked meats.

What should not be stored: sausage, butter and other fatty products - in plastic packaging, they quickly become covered with a white coating and become slippery.

A good alternative to a package is cling film. It is thin and soft, tightly wraps the product and creates a hermetic package . Ideal for irregularly shaped products that are difficult to fit, such as in a container.

The only downside is that such packaging is disposable.

What is better to store: fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish, meat, smoked meats.

What should not be stored: sausage, butter and other fatty products - in plastic packaging, they quickly become covered with a white coating and become slippery.

It has good protective properties, does not let in extraneous odors, does not absorb fat and does not let in moisture (polyethylene is a more permeable material). Products in such packaging will be stored longer than those wrapped in film or in a bag.

What is better to store: fatty foods and food, some ready meals should be stored in foil .

What should not be stored: do not wrap in hot foil - when heated, it becomes brittle, breaks and tears easily.

Parchment paper allows products to "breathe", which protects them from excess moisture and the appearance of an unpleasant smell, and also, such packaging is resistant to grease and moisture. It is more suitable for fatty products than polyethylene.

What is better to store: cheese, smoked meats, sausage, cottage cheese, butter, confectionery.

What should not be stored: vegetables, fruits, greens, fish.

One of the most civilized packages. Plastic containers with lids are an extremely practical way to store products .

But you need to be extremely careful when choosing a container. Definitely, the tray you choose should be designed for food . This is evidenced by a mark in the form of a glass or a fork applied to the surface of the container. However, our choice does not end there. Find out for which temperature the container is suitable for cold or hot products . After all, some types of plastic are absolutely safe at room temperature, or toxic substances can be released from plastic when heated. Polypropylene is considered the most durable material. Such containers withstand the highest temperatures well, so you can even heat food in the microwave without removing it from the package .

Any plastic tableware will not cause harm if it is certified and used for its intended purpose.

What is better to store: any product , it is especially convenient to store ready meals - in plastic containers. Even, it is very convenient to freeze products , you just need to choose a package with the appropriate marking.

Oxygen is the main enemy of fresh products . Food oxidizes in air , and most bacteria cannot survive in an airless environment. Because, after removing the air from the package , the food will stay fresh as long as possible.

Vacuum containers are made of heat-resistant glass or polypropylene plastic. You put the food in the package , and then use a special pump to suck out the air. Pumps can be mechanical or electric. Of course, a mechanical pump is cheaper, but you have to suck the air out by hand, which makes it less likely to create a completely airless environment. The second type of pumps is more expensive, they work automatically, from the network or from a battery - this method will ensure sufficient rarefaction of the air.

Often, a special grid can be added to the containers, which is placed on the bottom of the dishes and serves to separate the product , for example, fresh meat from the juice that is released from it. Also, on the lid of many containers there is a special month and date indicator in order to remember from what time the product has been stored in this package .

What is better to store: ready meals, fresh meat and fish, cold cuts, sausage, cheese, semi-finished products.

What should not be stored: fruits, vegetables, greens.

Do not store food in cast iron pans and aluminum pans. Cast iron is very vulnerable to rust and aluminum to oxidation. It is better to use enameled or glass dishes. Also, if you want, for example, to pour the soup from one pan to another, and then put it in the refrigerator, you will boil it, since the second pan is not sterile, which will accelerate the deterioration of the soup. In no case should there be spoons or other cutlery in containers with food in the refrigerator - oxidation processes occur that lead to product spoilage .