When meal prepping for the week, store your food safely so it can be enjoyed at a later date. In addition to making your life easier down the line, pre-prepared food is a much more cost-effective approach.
Whatever the scale of your cooked food that needs storing, get prepared by having some eco-friendly takeaway packaging handy. Once you have suitable containers ready, you can make food preparation easier than ever. Simply grab a box and either heat it up right away or take it on the go for lunch. To help ensure you store your food effectively and hygienically, here is a simple guide to make the process as easy as possible.
Choose Your Containers Wisely
Depending on what type of food you are storing, ensure you pick the right containers for the job. For food that you can heat from frozen, opt for microwavable or oven-proof containers. This saves you from having to transfer the contents over or ruining your packaging.
Let it Cool
Once you’ve finished cooking, wait for the food to cool down to room temperature before you put it into storage. Putting hot goods straight into the fridge or freezer risks spoiling the food. On the other hand, do not leave it standing for over two hours as this runs the risk of bacteria forming.
Serve it Up
It is always worth separating your batch into individual serving sizes before you put it in the freezer. Have each portion stored in an individual container so you can take what you need.
Label Your Food
As you put your food into the fridge or freezer, write a label to go with it. Make it clear what is inside the packaging and note down the date that it was cooked so you can ensure that you do not keep food for longer than you should. Whether you use a professional label printer or stick on some tape, having a written reference will help you maintain an organized and safe set of food.
Vacuum Packing
For those who are producing a high volume of food, switching to vacuum sealing can be a worthwhile decision. Food can be stored in specially designed bags that are sealed to remove any air from the contents and keep the packaging as small as possible. As well as freeing up a lot of additional space, it will keep the quality of food better against a build-up of ice.