Store crusty artisan bread cut-side down on the counter in a paper bag for a day or two — never the fridge, which stales bread faster. For longer storage, slice the loaf and freeze it; you can toast slices straight from frozen. Soft sandwich bread does best sealed at room temperature away from sunlight.
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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