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10 genius products to make your groceries last longer (and save you money)
Let's face it: Groceries are expensive right now. What with inflation, residual pandemic supply-chain issues, global warming threatening crops, and economic instability across the globe, food prices have steadily increased since 2020.
But that increase in prices at checkout hasn't stopped some of us from buying way more food than we can use before it goes off. In fact, Americans waste 80 million tons of food every year, which comes out to be about 149 billion meals, according to Feeding America, a nonprofit that runs a network of food banks across the nation. All of that waste ends up totaling over $444 billion worth of food tossed into American's trash cans annually. That's a lot of food, and money, essentially going down the drain.
If you don't like being part of the problem, even just small changes to your everyday habits in and around the kitchen can help to extend the shelf life of your fresh foods, fruits and vegetables to make them last for weeks or even months at a time. Buying only what you need is a good start, but strategically storing what you do buy is even better.
In fact, I've owned several of the products I've recommended below for years and swear by them for making sure I cook with all (and I mean all) of my produce in my house before it goes off. In particular, I love these food storage containers that double as colanders and storage, as well as these silicone stretch lids that I use to store halves of lemons and to cover leftovers in bowls that don't have lids.
Keep reading for other product hacks to make your produce — and your money — go further than ever.
1. Food huggers, to keep fruits and veg halves fresher for longer.
If you find yourself frequently needing to store half-sliced fruits and vegetables, these silicone food huggers are a smart storage solution that'll make your life easier. Keep halves of lemons, onions, tomatoes and more fresh and from drying out with these genius little stretchy huggers.
They come in large, medium and small sizes to fit all of your produce needs. They're dishwasher safe and reusable so you can also stop spending money on plastic wraps and plastic bags for leftovers.
2. Silicone stretch lids, for storing pretty much everything else.
These silicone stretch lids are probably one of the most versatile food-saving products you can buy. This pack of 14 includes stretchy lids in sizes from about 2 inches to nearly 9 inches in diameter that can be used preserve everything from a small lemon half to a large stockpot.
Speaking from personal experience, these are particularly great for going from serveware to storage, especially if you're feeling too lazy to put all of your leftovers in Tupperware storage containers. The stretchy lids can be used to cover up sauce pots and awkwardly shaped serving bowls, as well as jars, cans and halves of produce. And because they're dishwasher and freezer safe, the options are, quite literally, endless.
3. Dual colander and food storage containers to keep fresh-washed produce from wilting.
I’ve owned these containers for nearly three years and still use them daily. They come in a set of three — and include a large, medium and small container. The small container is the perfect size for storing a pint of blueberries, while the medium size is great for small produce like cherry tomatoes and radishes. The large container can hold carrots, broccoli, lettuce or other large produce.
What I like most about these food storage containers is that the inner liner of each one can be removed and used like a colander, so you can easily wash, dry and store produce in one gadget. The liner sits elevated from the rest of the storage container so you can be sure that moisture — the enemy of fresh produce — does not come in contact with your fruits and vegetables.
The containers also have lids with adjustable air vents and can be easily stacked. The vents can be used to regulate air flow and control humidity to keep your fruits and veggies fresh for up to two weeks.
4. A brown sugar keeper with an innovative terracotta disc.
If you've ever bought a pack of brown sugar, only for it to be rock hard the next time you wanted to use it, you need one of these brown sugar keepers. This one is particularly unique in that it comes with a removable terracotta disc in the lid that — after being soaked in water and locked back into place — prevents your brown sugar from drying out.
I've owned this exact brown sugar keeper for over three years, and haven't ended up with dried out brown sugar yet! After three years, the airtight seal of the container and the terracotta disc keep the sugar fresh and pliable so it's ready to use whenever the baking mood strikes.
5. A fresh herb keeper that doesn't overwater.
Fresh herbs are notoriously hard to store and keep fresh. When you find yourself throwing out more fresh herbs than you use, it's time to invest in one of these Cole & Mason herb keepers.
The "hydro pad" turns this tiny gadget into a type of "self watering" storage container that allows herbs to draw up moisture as needed. When you're ready to cook with the herbs, the nifty flip and slide lid allows you to easily trim the amount you need.
It comes with three removable dividers so you can store a variety of different herbs at the same time, too.
6. Silicone stretch lids, especially good for jars and cans of pet food.
Similar to the silicone stretch lids, these smaller stretch lids are designed to be used on tops of jars and cans. Reviewers say they're especially useful to store open cans of dog and cat to keep them fresh.
They could also be used to store open jars with missing lids, or to store dry goods in spare mason jars in your pantry.
7. A bread box that keeps the bread in its original packaging.
This innovative bread box is useful if you buy lots of standard-sized sandwich bread and want to keep it fresh for as long as possible.
It keeps bread fresh by keeping it in its original bag. To use, pull the bread bag down outside of the bread container to dispense slices of bread one at a time. Replace the bread bin lid with the bread pulled to the top to ensure maximum freshness.
In fact, nearly 20,000 shoppers have given this product an average 4.6-star rating for its "freshness," "quality" and "ease of use."
8. Liners for the insides of your refrigerator shelves to help with moisture and air circulation.
These innovative foam fridge liners absorb moisture and allow air to circulate throughout the refrigerator produce drawers to prevent your fruit and veggies from rotting or spoiling. They're also used to tamp down odors and prevent bruising on your produce.
Have a small fridge? No worries, as they can easily be cut to size. Simply given them a quick and easy clean to maintain them for the long term and keep reusing them as long as possible.
9. Reusable silicone sandwich bags, for much more than just sandwiches.
I've been a longtime fan of Stasher bags — as in, I've had mine for over half a decade — and I still rave about them. They can be used however you would normally use a plastic food storage bag, and more. I've used mine to store snacks and liquid carry-ons while traveling, to store frozen compost in-between weekly drop-offs, and much, much more.
They can also be used to keep food leftovers fresher for longer. Best of all, they're dishwasher safe (just don't turn them inside-out when washing, as that might cause them to rip).
10. Beeswax food wraps, to kick your plastic wrap habit once and for all.
I've been using Bee's Wraps reusable beeswax food wraps for nearly as long as I've been using Stasher bags. Both came into my life when I was doubling down on making my kitchen more sustainable, while trying to tamp down on my use of single-use plastics.
What I love most about these beeswax food wraps is that they're just super practical for all of those leftovers you aren't quite sure how to store but would like to save, like a hunk of cheese, a wedge of lemon or a few slices of bread.
They're easy to keep reusing, too. Just wash them with cool water and mild soap and let them dry.
These food storage tips will not only make your groceries last longer, they will help you save money each week by using more and throwing away less.
