Spring Cleaning Your Pantry: Keep Food Fresh and Safe

Keeping your food safe at home is one of the best ways to stretch what you have. When you store food the right way, it lasts longer, tastes better, and keeps your family healthy.

Start With Your Fridge and Freezer

Your refrigerator is your friend. Keep it cold — around 40°F or below. Your freezer should be at 0°F or below. If you are not sure how cold your fridge is, you can buy a small fridge thermometer at most stores in Orlando.

Here are a few simple tips:

• Put raw meat on the bottom shelf. This stops juices from dripping on other food.
• Don't pack your fridge too full. Cold air needs room to move.
• After you cook, put leftovers in the fridge within two hours. In our Florida heat, food can spoil fast.

If the power goes out during a storm, keep the doors closed. A full freezer can stay cold for about two days if you don't open it.

Store Dry Foods the Smart Way

Canned goods, rice, beans, and pasta are great to keep on hand. Store them in a cool, dry spot away from the stove and out of the sun. Heat and damp can ruin dry food faster.

Keep these ideas in mind:

• Use older items first. Put newer cans in the back and older cans up front.
• Move open bags of rice, flour, or cereal into sealed jars or containers. This keeps bugs and moisture out.
• Check cans before you use them. Skip any can that is bulging, leaking, or rusted.

A clean, dry pantry helps your food last for months. That means fewer trips to the store and less waste.

Watch Out for Spoiled Food

Sometimes food goes bad even when you do everything right. Trust your senses. If something smells sour, looks slimy, or has fuzzy mold, throw it out. When in doubt, toss it out. It is not worth getting sick.

Be careful with these:

• Cooked meat and rice should not sit out at room temperature for long.
• Cut fruits and vegetables belong in the fridge.
• Milk, eggs, and yogurt go bad faster when left on the counter.

Also remember to wash your hands before you cook. Clean your counters and cutting boards too. Use one cutting board for raw meat and a different one for fruits and vegetables. This small step stops germs from spreading.

Make the Most of Every Meal

Good food storage saves money and feeds your family well. A few small habits add up over time. Label your leftovers with the date. Freeze extra bread or meat before it spoils. Plan meals around what you already have at home.

If your fridge or pantry is looking empty, that is okay. You are not alone, and help is here. Many of your neighbors right here in Central Florida lean on a little help now and then.

We're Here to Help

At Daily Bread Distribution Center, we want you and your family to have good, healthy food on the table. We are glad to share these tips, and we are even happier to share food.

If you need a hand filling your kitchen, come see us. Our food is free, and you are always welcome.

Ready to get food for your family? Visit /get-food to learn how we can help today.