You’ve just prepared a meal, and you don’t plan to eat it right away. Or you had guests come to your place, and you prepared plenty of food. How do you store it so that you can have it later? Most of us find ourselves in such situations almost every day. Despite this being a common daily occurrence, most people don’t bother learning the four types of food storage options, which can lead to food going bad too quickly and people unknowingly eating rotten food. Here are the four food storage options you must know.

Dry Staples

These form the basis of your food storage. They consist of dried things like flour, rice, sugar, pasta, pancake mix, coffee, and flakes. These foods can last many years if stored in the right conditions. They are cheaper and more nutritious. That means you can get them in bulk.

Canned Foods

Canned foods are ready-to-eat foods stored in tightly sealed cans to keep air out, which could lead to bacteria growth. Most of them are portable and well-packaged, so they don’t spill. They usually have a long shelf life, making them an ideal long-term storage option. Just be sure to check the expiration date and avoid bulk buying, so you don’t have the same expiry dates.

Dehydrated Food

Dehydrate foods are foods that lack water or moisture in them. These are everyday foods such as milk, eggs, and even legumes such as peas. Food companies can completely dry the foods and seal them. Well-sealed dehydrated foods can last as long as twenty years. However, if you dry your food at home, you should consume it within a year.

Freeze Dried

We freeze our food every time. Commercial companies freeze dry foods by placing them in a vacuum chamber and drying off the excess moisture. They’re healthy, tasty, compact, and lightweight. Most of them only require hot water to rehydrate.