Cheese is alive and needs to breathe — plastic wrap suffocates it and traps moisture. Wrap it in cheese paper or parchment, then loosely in foil, and keep it in the warmest part of the fridge (a drawer). Hard cheeses last weeks; soft cheeses just days. If a hard cheese gets a little surface mould, simply cut it away — the rest is fine.
FridgeTreat soft herbs like cilantro and parsley like flowers: trim the stems and stand them in a jar with an inch of water, then loosely cover with a bag and refrigerate. Hardy herbs like rosemary and thyme keep best wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel inside a container. Change the water every few days and they'll stay vibrant for up to two weeks.
PantryNever store onions and potatoes together — onions release moisture and gases that make potatoes sprout faster. Keep both in a cool, dark, well-ventilated spot in a paper bag or basket, never sealed plastic. Avoid the fridge for potatoes: cold converts their starch to sugar and turns them gritty and sweet.
FreezerFreeze soups, sauces and stews flat in labeled zip bags — they stack like books and thaw in minutes. Always squeeze out air to prevent freezer burn, and write the contents and date with a marker. Portion into single servings so you only defrost what you need. Most cooked meals keep well for about 3 months.
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