10 groceries you’re storing in ways that waste money

Groceries are too expensive to let spoil early, but a lot of people store them the wrong way. Fixing these mistakes stretches your food budget and helps cut down on waste.

Bread in the Fridge

Keeping bread in the fridge makes it go stale faster.

Cold temperatures dry it out, ruining the texture. The best place for bread is the freezer if you won’t eat it quickly. Slice it before freezing so you can grab what you need without thawing the whole loaf.

Tomatoes in the Fridge

Cold ruins tomato flavor and texture.

They should stay on the counter until ripe, then get eaten within a couple of days. Refrigeration makes them mealy and bland. A simple fruit bowl on your counter will keep them tasting fresh longer.

Potatoes in the Fridge

Potatoes shouldn’t be refrigerated.

Cold temps turn their starch into sugar, making them sweet and gritty when cooked. A cool, dark pantry or basement shelf is the right spot. They’ll last weeks this way without sprouting or softening.

Onions Next to Potatoes

Onions and potatoes shouldn’t be stored together.

The gases from onions make potatoes spoil faster, and vice versa. Keeping them separate extends the life of both. Onions do best in a ventilated bin or mesh bag in a cool place.

Bananas in Plastic Bags

Bananas release gases that ripen them quickly.

When trapped in a bag, they spoil in days. Leaving them out on a counter or hanging from a banana hook keeps airflow moving and slows the process. If you want to stretch their life, separate the bunch.

Milk in the Fridge Door

The door is the warmest spot in your fridge.

Milk stored there spoils faster since it’s exposed to temperature changes every time the door opens. Keeping it on a middle shelf toward the back helps it stay fresh longer.

Herbs Without Water

Fresh herbs wilt fast without the right storage.

Instead of tossing them in the fridge, trim the stems and place them in a glass of water, loosely covered with a bag. Basil, parsley, and cilantro last much longer this way.

Apples Near Other Produce

Apples release gases that ripen everything around them.

Storing them with other fruits and vegetables makes everything spoil faster. Keeping them in their own crisper drawer or bag helps extend the life of your produce.

Cheese Without Wrapping

Cheese dries out when stored in plastic wrap alone.

Wax paper or parchment wrapped around it, then stored in a container, helps cheese stay fresh longer. It prevents mold from spreading and cuts down on waste.

Eggs Washed Before Storage

Washing eggs removes their protective coating.

That makes them spoil faster and more prone to bacteria. Store eggs unwashed in their carton in the fridge—they’ll stay fresh for weeks this way.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.