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Questions tagged [storage]

Questions about storing food both before and after they have been processed or cooked.

254 questions
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How did people transport food before aluminium foil was invented?

I know this question does not concern cooking, however I wondered how people transported their food before aluminium foil was invented (circa 1900, which is not too long ago). Did people in the middle ages only carry preserved food with them on long…
B.Swan
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Honey changing into unusable, hardened clump

I buy raw, unfiltered honey from the grocery store in jars sold/packed directly by the farmer. When I had used the last jar to about half, I noticed the honey beginning to dry(crystalize?) to the point where I couldn't use the honey around these…
JWiley
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What container for olive oil for longest shelf life?

I have bought a 5l container of olive oil which is impractical for daily use. I intend to decant it into something smaller but I'm not sure what to buy. I know that olive oil is affected by light and temperature. However particularly on light I…
Tom
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What would cause the peel of a lime to turn yellow?

About a week ago, I purchased two limes, a lemon, a couple of kiwi fruits, and some oranges. When I got home, I placed them in a bowl. One of the limes ended up at the bottom of the bowl but there were still enough gaps between the fruit that it…
verbose
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Does keeping a fridge/freezer full significantly help energy efficiency?

This is one of those statements I frequently encounter, but I've never really seen evidence to support it. The advice often goes even further to say that if your fridge/freezer is relatively empty, you should add something (e.g., bottles of water).…
Athanasius
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Why store food in an airtight container when it's in the fridge?

The common wisdom for storing prepared food for later is to store it in an airtight container and put it in the fridge, the temperature of which should be at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celcius). I understand the purpose of the…
anonandon
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How is pasteurization different from sterilization?

Are these two terms basically the same? I am trying to learn more about food safety and preserving food longer.
Michael
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13
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4 answers

Is it safe to store dry food products under the sink?

I'm in an apartment with limited kitchen storage space. I want to store some dry food products like tea, coffee, cereal, rice, etc. but the only place I found for them is basically under the sink (actually, it's not directly under it, but it's one…
pushkin
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How to keep dust and cat hair off cast iron pans?

I live with three long haired cats that shed in the winter, and my place gets dusty at times too. I have a fairly new cast iron skillet that I use once every one or two days. I don't have any shelves in the kitchen big enough to store it so I have…
Jason C
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Can you store oil in a container that is not airtight?

I've have seen that several chefs and home cooks (e.g. my mom) store oils like canola and olive in ceramic or glass bottles with pour spouts that are not sealed. An example of this can be found on Serious Eats My girlfriend asserted that oils…
alexpotato
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What is the best practice storage method for flour to avoid bugs?

I have recently decided that I'd rather have base ingredients that I am store in my pantry in order to make more meals from scratch as opposed to getting things premade. A friend of mine told me there's no way that they would store flour anywhere…
Flats
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Can I store dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, etc) together?

I am planning on making a bunch of gingerbread this year, the recipe I use takes both baking powder and baking soda. In order to cut down on dishes and time I thought I might mix all of the dry ingredients together in multiple batches and store it…
binarylegit
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Why don't they sell frozen tomatoes like other frozen vegetables and fruits?

Why aren't frozen tomatoes available like frozen broccoli, peas, peaches, or strawberries? Why are tomatoes only canned or fresh? Example: http://www.peapod.com/search_results.jhtml?searchText=frozen+tomatoes
Chloe
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Why should we not store onions and potatoes together?

I have heard that onions and potatoes shouldn't be stored together. Why will this make the potatoes spoil faster?
Dharini Chandrasekaran
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Storing chicken of the woods mushrooms

How can I store stored chicken of the woods? Last year I tried dehydrating but it really doesn't bounce back too well. Could these be sauteed and then frozen for later use in sauces? They only come around once a year so I don't want to screw them up…
NKY Homesteading
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