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You should never keep these 5 foods in the pantry — here’s how to store them properly so they last longer

Food & Wine / Getty Images
Credit: Food & Wine / Getty Images

Extend the shelf life of your precious groceries.

Extend the shelf life of your precious groceries.

Best Amazon Fridge Organization Products Overall

We spend our hard-earned money and time getting food from the grocery store and farmers’ market, but are we storing it the right way? Many of us are guilty of stocking certain foods in the pantry when, in reality, this is causing them to spoil sooner. Instead, you should be keeping these foods in a controlled temperature environment — aka, the fridge— inside airtight containers to help extend their shelf life and keep them fresher for longer. 

Some of the food items listed below surprise you, but we’ll give you a hint: one of them is nuts. How many of the others below have you been storing incorrectly? It’s time to start doing it the right way and grab the proper food storage containers for your fridge. With prices starting at just $9 at Amazon, this is a worthy investment to keep food at its best.    

lazy susan sauce containers
Credit: Amazon

It’s well-known that the cost of groceries is rising, so we found solutions to keep everything from nuts to open condiments around longer. Shop top picks from Pyrex, OXO, Rubbermaid, and more, and get your kitchen storage in order.

Joie Fresh Pod Lemon Storage Container, Keeps Leftover Half Flavorful and Firm in Fridge, Reusable
Credit: Amazon

Nuts & Seeds 

Do you buy bags of cashews, almonds, and sunflower seeds, eagerly munch on them, and then toss the bag into the pantry? Wrong! To keep these fantastic sources of healthy fats, proteins, and fiber at their optimal freshness for longer, nuts and seeds should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. This ensures they don’t go rancid, and their quality is not affected. If you start in the fridge, they’ll be more easily snackable.

OXO Good Grips 2.8-Quart Pop Container

OXO Good Grips POP Container
Credit: Amazon

$19 $18 at Amazon

The OXO Good Grips Pop container’s lid creates an airtight seal with a simple push of the button. This 2.8-quart container is ideal for storing “large bags of mixed nuts,” wrote one happy customer. The clear plastic base lets you easily see when it needs to be refilled, and you’ll never get your almonds and cashews confused. Over 2,000 shoppers have purchased it in the past month.

Vtopmart 3-Piece Glass Food Storage Jar Set

Vtopmart 34oz Glass Food Storage Jars with Airtight Clamp Lids
Credit: Amazon

$23 $22 at Amazon

This 3-piece set of Mason jars is ideal for storing multiple types of nuts and seeds. Each glass jar has a 34-ounce capacity and a lid with a rubber gasket that creates a “nice tight seal so no moisture gets in,” stated one reviewer who uses them to store chia seeds, among other nuts and seeds. Before switching to storing another type of nut or seed, the brand recommends that the jars be washed by hand.

person opening fridge container
Credit: Amazon

Open Condiments

There are many condiments that, once opened, should be kept refrigerated to prevent them from spoiling or developing mold. Think dairy-based condiments, like mayonnaise, and other condiments, like organic maple syrup and natural peanut butter. Infused olive oils add flavor to our dishes, but if left at room temperature, they can grow bacteria. Fruit- and vegetable-based condiments — like salsa and pesto — belong in the fridge, too. With the right tools, it’s easy to keep them organized and findable, even in a crowded refrigerator.

YouCopia FridgeView Fridge Turntable

A lazy Susan with food items including jars and bottles from 365 brand
Credit: Amazon

$15 at Amazon

Can’t find your favorite jar of peanut butter? Simply spin this turntable — no need to root around the back of your fridge shelves. (And you just might spin it around a few times for the fun of it.) It’s close to 11 inches in diameter and has non-slip feet to keep it from sliding around. Get it for $9 to keep your ketchup, mustard, and more within reach.

YouCopia Rollout Fridge Caddy

YouCopia RollOut Fridge Caddy
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

$20 at Amazon

Got a deep refrigerator? Stop struggling to reach that bottle of mustard way in the back — just slide out this rolling fridge caddy. In addition to its wheels, the organizer has handles and two adjustable dividers that you can move around to fit your favorite condiments.

Joie Fresh Pod Lemon Storage Container, Keeps Leftover Half Flavorful and Firm in Fridge, Reusable
Credit: Amazon

Cut Citrus Fruits

Whether you’ve peeled an orange, cut up slices of lemons and limes, or halved a grapefruit, citrus pieces need to be refrigerated so they don’t dry out or go bad. An airtight container in the refrigerator will extend the shelf life of cut citrus fruit, letting you enjoy the juicy tidbits for longer.

Rubbermaid Brilliance 14-Piece Food Storage Container Set 

Rubbermaid Brilliance BPA Free Food Storage Containers with Lids
Credit: Amazon

$40 $28 at Amazon

These shopper-loved Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are also some of our favorite food storage containers we’ve tested. We found much to love about these plastic containers, from their snap-on, airtight lids to their affordable price. But don’t take just our word for it: One reviewer wrote that their “sliced lemons have remained fresh for three weeks” in one of these nifty containers. The 14-piece set is even more budget-friendly than usual — it’s on sale for $2 apiece.

Stasher 3-Piece Premium Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bags 

Stasher Premium Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bags
Credit: Amazon

$52 $45 at Amazon

If you’re snacking on orange segments or slicing up lemons for drinks, this silicone bag set by Stasher will come in handy. These editor-loved reusable bags provide an airtight seal, so citrus pieces won’t dry out, plus they’re a way to avoid microplastics. The 3-piece set has 1-cup, 2-cup, and 4-cup bags, and since they’re bowl-shaped, they stand up as you add or dispense contents.  

wooden container on marble counter
Credit: Amazon

Fresh Nut Butter 

If slathering homemade almond butter on toast or fruit is up your alley, you’ve likely noticed that the oil tends to separate when the jar is stored at room temperature, requiring you to stir and blend it back in next time. That’s not necessarily a sign that it’s gone bad; that just means there are no commercial stabilizers in it. However, to preserve the shelf life of fresh nut butter, you should keep it in the fridge, especially if the jar has already been opened — it will last much longer/. The obvious solution: Keep it in the refrigerator to maintain quality and taste — we recommend a butter crock or a glass jar.

ComSaf 8-Piece Mini Mason Jar Set

ComSaf Mini Mason Jars 4oz
Credit: Amazon

$13 at Amazon

Stash a big batch of nut butter in this 8-piece mini Mason jar set, and keep them for yourself or give a few jars away to friends. That’s what one shopper does, who reported: “These jars are a perfect size for homemade jelly or nut butter, and the people I give them to can reuse them.”  Each jar holds 4 ounces and has split-type lids that are airtight and leakproof.

Dowan Large Butter Dish

DOWAN 6.5
Credit: Amazon

$28 at Amazon

This Dowan butter dish measures 6.5 x 3.4 x 3.1 inches, and one reviewer wrote it’s “just perfect for 1 pound of my homemade butter.”  The ceramic dish has a wooden lid with an airtight silicone seal to ensure butter stays fresh. It has scored more than 13,000 perfect ratings, and over 100 shoppers have bought it in the last month.

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