How To Store Fresh Food And Make It Last Longer, According To A Chef

Inflation is prompting jarring price hikes at grocery stores across the nation. And one of those ways was reaching out to an expert in the industry to get tips on food preservation so I can make my groceries last longer. “The things that you struggle with in food preservation are things that degrade food, and oxygen is a big thing,” Ash Fulk, executive chef at Fox Lifestyle Hospitality Group in New York City, told me. It allows the bacteria on the outside of the food to grow, so the less oxygen there is, the less bacteria you’ll have.” He also recommended using storage containers that will significantly reduce the oxygen food are exposed to, so they can last longer. But aside from focusing on the types of containers or bags you store your perishable goods in, Fulk said the biggest tips for preserving food are to simply cook it, and incorporate meal planning into your life so you have less food waste.