Food Storage Guide If Food Looks and Smells Okay, It Probably Is

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What do food date labels really mean? KEEP IT FRESH! With one exception, it’s not about food safety. food The dates on food labels are set by manufacturers to indicate when they recommend food consuming the product for peak quality. With the exception of infant formula, products are TOO GOOD still safe to eat after this date if they have been stored properly. Trust your senses! Food Storage Guide If food looks and smells okay, it probably is. TO WASTE TOO GOOD recyclefood.com Waste Less, Save More. TO WASTE

FRIDGE FRIDGE TEMP Sell by: Best before/Best by/Use by: Manufacturer’s date to tell store Manufacturer’s recommended date for PANTRY/ how long to display item for sale. CUPBOARD FREEZER optimal ﬂ avor/quality. TEMP

Food Storage Tips COUNTER

Immerse limp greens Certain fruits can cause Always refrigerate cut or FREEZER in ice water for 30 minutes or other fruits to spoil faster peeled produce and store place them upright in a glass if stored together. Keep ripe them in clear containers so you of water for a few hours to bananas, avocados, apples can see what’s inside. spruce them up. and tomatoes stored away from other fruit. Freeze fruits and veggies that you won’t eat in time.

Department of Natural Resources and Parks Solid Waste Division Alternate Formats Available Waste Resource Waste Partial content for this brochure provided Prevention Recovery Disposal Interpretation services available courtesy of Seattle Public Utilities. www.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste 206-477-4466 • TTY Relay 711 Printed on recycled paper Sept2019AR FRUITS Do not wash until ready to use VEGETABLES Do not wash until ready to use

Refrigerator: Store in breathable bag or container High-Humidity Crisper Drawer Tomatillos Strawberries Store in a paper bag Store in breathable bag or container Green Beans, Wax Beans Celery Caulifl ower Bok Choy Greens, Cucumbers Herbs (other than basil) Snap Peas, Fresh Peas hearty or leafy

Store with damp cloth in breathable Store with damp cloth in bag or container Refrigerator: Store loose sealed container Low-Humidity Root Vegetables Zucchini and Broccoli and Crisper Drawer beets, carrots, parsnips, Summer Squash Broccolini radishes, turnips Cherries Pears (ripe) Cabbage Okra Artichoke Store loose Store in a paper bag Store in sealed container

Peppers Apples Tropical Fruits (ripe) Stone Fruits Citrus Fruits Brussels Sprouts Green Onions, Store in breathable bag or kiwis, mangoes, papayas, peaches, plums, lemons, limes, Scallions container, away from other pineapples nectarines, apricots oranges, grapefruit Store in breathable bag or container fruits and vegetables Store loose OTHER FOOD

Refrigerator: Shelf

Blueberries Raspberries, blackberries, Melons (ripe) Avocados (ripe) Asparagus Corn on the Cob Ginger Mushrooms Eggs Butter Cheese Meat, Fish and PoultryPo Store in sealed and grapes Trim ends, store upright Keep in husks, store Store in sealed Store in paper bag Store in wax or Store in original or container Store in breathable bag in water with loose loose, if husked – store container parchment paper airtight packaging Store loose Store in original packaging or container plastic bag over top in airtight container

Counter Cupboard or Pantry Garlic and Shallots Winter Squash Onions Potatoes Beans and Black-eyed Peas Rice Bread Bananas Avocados (not ripe) Tomatoes Store loose or in Store loose or in Store in paper bag Store loose, away from Store in paper bag Store out of direct sunlight Store loose mesh bag away paper bag away other fruits and vegetables from potatoes from onions Store in original or airtight container

Pears (not ripe) Tropical Fruits (not ripe) Melons (not ripe) Department of kiwis, mangoes, papayas, Eggplant Herb (Basil) food Natural Resources and Parks pineapples Solid Waste Division Store loose Trim ends, store upright in water Store loose with loose plastic bag over top TOO GOOD Waste Resource Waste TO WASTE Prevention Recovery Disposal