We Kiwis love food. But food’s more than just food! It fuels us, satiates us and connects us. Whether it’s the perfect BBQ steak, a bowl of popcorn in the bath, a spicy hot sauce or a blob of peanut butter on an apple. Food simply makes life better. And that’s why, whatever it is you love, at New World we love it too so that's why we've put together this list of 23 tips and hacks that will make food last longer and taste better.
1. To help ripen tomatoes and improve their flavour, try storing them with the stem-side down. As they ripen their flavour and texture will improve, yum!
2. If crusts aren’t a favourite in your household, don’t throw them away! Store cut crusts in a bag in the freezer and use them to make delicious breadcrumbs or croutons.
3. Cornflakes gone a little stale? Don’t chuck them out! Just toast them up and crush and use as a crumb for your chicken or fish. Yummy!
4. To stop your cheese from drying out spread a little butter or margarine on the cut sides to seal in the moisture and keep it fresher for longer.
5. To keep your cakes and baked treats fresh, store them in an airtight container with a single slice of bread. The bread absorbs all the moisture and keeps your treats fresh and delicious!
6. Keep onions, shallots and garlic fresh for up to 3 months by storing them in the pantry in a hole-punched brown paper bag.
7. Your veggies don’t always have to be peeled (just make sure you give them a good wash) but if you do, save those peels to make yummy chips. Just toss them in a bit of olive oil, season and bake in the oven until crispy.
8. Did you know that if you wrap the top of your bananas in cling film they can last up to four to five days longer?
9. Not sure how to use up your leftover cream cheese? Try mixing it up with sweet chilli sauce or your favourite chutney to make a tasty sandwich spread. Or to sweeten it up, mix with a yummy jam or curd.
10. Plunge broccoli into ice cold water after blanching to maintain a lovely bright colour.
11. For an easy way to scrub your potatoes, pop on a pair of exfoliating gloves! Your potatoes will be clean in no time.
12. For an easy way to freeze leftover soup into single serve containers, just ladle into a muffin tin and place level in the freezer. Once frozen, pop each serving out and into a plastic bag, and save room in the freezer!
13. Trying to work out how hot your chilli will be? Don't worry about the colour, but pay attention to the size. The smaller the chilli the hotter it will be.
14. Sprinkle coarse salt on garlic cloves before you mince them; the salt will help to break them down faster.
15. Stray bits of egg shell in your cracked egg? Just dab your finger in water before you try and get it out, the shell will stick to your finger like a magnet!
16. Love salmon but just never sure when it's cooked properly? Slide a cake tester into the salmon and touch to your lower lip. If it feels hot, the salmon is probably done, if cool or only just warm then it will need more time.
17. Use an ice cream scoop to easily scoop out the seeds of a pumpkin. The edges of the scoop are sharp, so it cuts through the fibery, gooey stuff inside easier than a regular spoon can.
18. Keep that cake super moist by placing a slice of bread on top overnight.
19. To get the most out of your lemon or lime, pop it into the microwave for 10-20 seconds before squeezing…super juicy!
20. Stop your mushrooms from going slimy by wrapping them in paper towels before putting them in the fridge.
21. Coming down with a winter cold? Try eating red and green capsicums, they’re packed with Vitamin C.
22. Keep your bread fresh and stop it from going stale by placing a stalk of celery in the bread’s bag and closing it up.
23. To make your bacon extra crispy, just cook it in the oven instead. 200 degrees for 15-20mins - making sure you rotate the pan a few times while cooking for an even finish.