Save Money! 10 Ways to Make Your Groceries Last Longer! (Clean My Space) 

Portion out your tomato paste into 1 T portions and freeze in an ice cube tray. Transfer to a zip-loc when frozen, and you have the exact amount you need. Thanks for the tips!

I can’t be the only one watching this during the pandemic! I HATE wasting food especially now when it’s so hard to get plus who wants to go?! This video is so helpful... thank you!

FOOD SPECIFIC TIPS: 𝟙 CELERY, BROCCOLI, LETTUCE :: Wrap it in a tin foil. 𝟚 BREAD :: Store it in a cool dark place and NOT in fridge. --------hacks: ∙ Keep it in a microwave. ∙ Before it goes bad, consider freezing the loaves of bread. 𝟛 FRUITS :: Some packaged fruits have holes on the bottom. Just keep it in the fridge as is. 𝟜 TOMATO PASTE:: Put the remainder in a zipper bag and (using a blunt object) make a grid and store it in the freezer. 𝟝 MUSHROOMS:: Store them in a paper bag then in your drawer. 𝟞 COTTAGE CHEESE:: Store them upside down. 𝟟 ASPARAGUS:: Fill a glass about an inch full and place the bundle of asparagus. Cover it with the plastic bag it came from and store them in the fridge. Replace the water as needed. 𝟠 APPLES:: Get rid of the bad apples. GENERAL TIPS: • As long as it is safe to freeze, prolong any food close to expiry date by wrapped properly and put it in the freezer. • Do not overstuff your fridge.

I've been freezing tomato paste for years. It's the grid trick that I found awesome, thank you!!

Here's a money saving tip y'all might want to throw in later on. You know all those onion skins (the paper-y ones) and the bottom stalk of celery that are destined for the trash? Put 'em in a Ziploc bag and toss 'em in the freezer. When you've got more celery stalks, or onion skins, or any unused portions of vegetables that you'd throw into the trash, put 'em in that bag. When the bag fills up, toss the frozen scraps into a big pot and fill with water. Heat it on high heat until boiling and let cook for anywhere between 60-90 minutes. Congrats, you've just made a super cheap and delicious vegetable stock! Simply ladle out the vegetable scraps and put 'em down a garbage disposal or feel free to blend up the veggie chunks (however I'd remove the onion skins as they don't blend particularly well). It'll be way tastier than anything from a can and literally costs a few cents if even that. If you want to turn it into a broth, just add salt or soy sauce/tamari (the latter if you've got Coeliac's or are just going for a gluten-free diet). You can use the stock/broth for your next bowl of ramen soup, to make a delicious French lentil soup, or even a piping hot bowl of pho! (Just add some cardamom, ginger, star anise, pepper, and garlic for the latter dish). You could also use the stock to make a delicious risotto or any number of dishes you want to try or can think up. You can also feel better about yourself knowing your contributing less food waste and using up those "unusable" portions!

in Turkey, we put olive oil on top of the tomato paste. We fill the can / jar until no paste peeks through. This completely blocks air from reaching the paste and it lasts so much longer.

I love all your videos. I have learned quite a bit from you so far! I am 75 years old and thanks to you I am finally learning how to clean. I never had to in the past but the pandemic made having a cleaner come in impossible. So THANK YOU! Several comments: I LOVE mushrooms AND asparagus. Did you know that not everyone gets that funny smelling pee when eating asparagus? It is a genetic marker just like a marker that makes cilantro taste like soap for some people. You mentioned freezing ginger to make it easier to grate. This is about fresh Parmesan or other hard cheeses that are often used grated. Two steps: 1. freeze the cheese. 2. When frozen, take it out of the freezer and keep it in the fridge. You won't believe how easy it is to grate. I discovered this quite by accident because I bought too much and put some in the freezer. You asked what we want to know about keeping food fresh. I can't figure out how to keep tomatoes, onions, and potatoes. I would love to hear your thoughts on those. Again, thank you for taking the time to make the videos to share you amazing insights! Stay safe and well!

Yeah, nice tip on the cottage cheese--until it leaked all over my fridge! Drain the cottage cheese, yogurt, and sour cream every other day of excess liquid. Might want to mention that next video.

Another great way to store tomato paste is emptying remains from the can into a small jar and fill with vegetable oil, making sure the top us coated. Store in the fridge and it will last until the very last drop. Love your energy! Subscribed.

I regrow my celery after using all of the stalks. Cut two inches from base and thin brown layer at base. Put in small shallow dish of water and place in window sill. Keep base, bowl and water clean. Shoots grow quickly from the center. Place in soil, garden or pot and enjoy free celery! Gets huge in garden! Do same with green onions, book choy, leaf lettuces and more. Check out others on YT. Enjoy! 🌿

I make a big batch of mashed potatoes but more stiff (creamier ones don’t taste as great). Then I put it into freezer bags much like you did with the tomato paste minus the lines. It’s great because you can save to heat up later and then thin out with a bit of milk and butter. Tastes way better too! It’s great if you need to use up potatoes that are starting to soften.

Brilliant tip on tomato paste! I used to put the leftover paste in ice cube trays then once frozen put them in a plastic baggie and back into the freezer..but I like your tip better! What food saving tip do you have on spinach? Love it yet don't eat it fast enough. Another one is avocados...it's a hit or miss, one day good the next over the hill.

Here is a good trick too: chop up fresh herbs, combine and put in ice cube trays. Melt butter add garlic powder (if desired) pour into herb cubes and freeze. You have instant herb butter for veggies, soup, gravy, whatever!

Flip the remaining spaghetti sauce jar over & store in fridge- same as your cottage cheese- Italian trick that works! Thxs for all the info & the replies are informative, too. Much learned quickly today.

They also sell tomatoes paste in a tube similar to what toothpaste comes in.

This is so helpful for me as I am carefully planning my trip to the grocery store. It is giving me anxiety because we already have Covid cases nearby.

I measure leftover tomato paste in 1 tablespoon increments, place them on waxed paper and put them in the freezer. Once frozen, I put them in a zip freezer bag then into the freezer. They are already measured out when I need them later.

I like how your fridge looks like an realistic fridge with all of the condiments, and you didn't take everything out just for the video.

Absolutely love mushrooms cooked or raw! Love that tip about the tomato paste! Although I did learn there are a few brands that actually put tomato paste in a tube like toothpaste. Love the lettuce celery in tin foil tip. I haven't heard what the tip is about mushrooms yet because I paused the video in order to leave this comment!

It's wonderful to hear of these ways to save food and make people mindful of what they are consuming . It's so tough trying to save your money and your health and also save the planet. Thanks for all the good ideas you have hared. You have lots of G R E A T points except the tin foil (costs the planet a lot to produce aluminium) and zip lock bags (classic convenience product that is out of control)

Hey everyone I see a lot of ppl are recommending a tube for the tomato paste . It maybe easier but not only will it cost more it also isn’t stainable . I recently started my journey on trying to cut my impact on waste going into the landfill and being more aware of products that will be still around in the landfill or our ocean long after I’m gone. I’m not trying to push this on anyone but I believe that if we all do just a little bit like using more glass instead of plastic it could do wonders for ecosystem . There is a lot of videos you can watch just search zero waste . You don’t have to be 100% zero waste and it’s not expensive to do but anything helps. Side not I love all your ideas I have modified some of them to cut down waste but I think they are great ideas . I also like Asparagus and mushrooms. I wanted to find out ways to keep salad greens more fresh and last longer but i saw a lady post a great idea in the comments below :)

Although, this may not be news to everyone. I was shown when you buy milk and you're not going to use a full half gallon or gallon within the expiration date, put what you don't need into smaller containers and freeze it!! Then when ready to use defrost one small container and I couldn't believe how much LONGER thw milk lasted once defrosted!!! I love using milk this way. Nothing wasted!!!! Food is too expensive to waste. People are starving and we are wasting food????? I appreciate these ideas and will us them. Also; keep coffee in your container it was purchased in and keep in freezer. Yes! The coffee remains fresh!!!

Love your video. Color me as loving both mushrooms AND asparagus. We grill outside a lot and both taste great grilled.

Great video as always! I love mushrooms and asparagus, as a matter of fact I pretty much like all vegetables. Missed the video previous to this. I'll do a search. Thanks Melissa!

The tomato paste hack is great! Mushrooms are my all time favorite food, too!! Great video!!!!

Better tomato paste idea. Put the tomato paste into an ice cube tray & freeze. One can pre measure if they want, but I have a mini ice cube tray, where each cell holds a tbs. I also freeze coconut creamer, coconut oil, & vegan sour cream this way. After they're frozen, I pop them out of the ice tray, and into SQUARE 4 oz (holds 4 cubes), or or RECTANGLE (holds 8oz/8 cubes) Ziploc food storage containers. Why do I use the square & rectangle ones? Because they take up less space, stack, and fit into one of those dollar store, red cupcake holders, double stacked. So, like 8 cups and 2 half cup containers, will fit in ONE cupcake container. Then all that food, is stacked & contained. Then, the red cupcake containers, can also be stacked. I once had like 4+ of these cupcake containers stacked in my freezer. I make pre portioned servings (4 oz/half a cup) of vegetables, (I take frozen vegetables, out of the bags they come in. I hate a freezer full of random bags, of random shapes) and 1 cup servings of soup, etc. I also make my own pizza sauce, pasta sauce, & vegan gravy, broth, and freeze those, in the same 4 or 8 oz squares. Also, I dice up one big onion, half a green pepper, banana slices, diced celery, (to put in sooupps & prevent from spoiling. Who can use up a bunch of celery in a week?) chopped broccoli stems (to make broccoli soup out of), and put the diced pieces in the same 4 or 8 oz containers. The same 4 or 8 oz containers, are great for storing vegan cheeze shreds, garden harvests, (I have about 8 cups of blackberries, 4 cups of chopped chives, 4 cups of diced squash, LOTS of diced rhubarb, and 12 cups of diced tomatoes). I also use the red cupcake holders, to freeze an array of muffins I make. I can also put 2 of those 6pks of mini corn on the cob in there, with 2 frozen juice concentrates in with them. Then all of this various food, will stack neatly, in a cube freezer that I have. I also got a 10 pk, of 2 oz containers, from the dollar store. I use these for downsizing out of the other containers, or I put any overflow (like some diced onion, peppers, or frozen cubes (2 cubes)in these, that won't fit in the others. These also stack. So, with this system, all frozen food, is neatly stacked, and I can freeze a massive amount of food, in very little space. The system, also makes for great food management, and rotation. When I empty one of the containers, something else goes in it. I also freeze peanut butter & jelly, instead of letting the jars sit in the fridge for a week. Then I just bring down 2 oz at a time, to use. Come to think of it, this system, can help get most things out of a fridge. What do you do with olive or pickle juice, after you eat all the pickles and olives? Pour it down the drain? Pour it into mini Ice cube trays, and then freeze it! Then, when you make soup, put a cube of frozen olive brine in, as the "salt". Making veggie burgers, or loaf? Add in some of the pickle juice, instead of water. Empty pickle/jelly jars? Use them to store, rice, pasta, dried beans, corn on the cob holders, pastry bag tips, and other dried goods & small kitchen stuff. I try to waste nothing. I hate Ziploc bags, because they cost money, & are a pain to clean & reuse.

How you say it “One table spoon of tomato paste” loll 🤣🤣 love mushroom 🍄 ssss

To extend the life of a green leaf lettuce, put it in a container with a couple “ of water upside down, with green top immersed in water. It will last for weeks. My favorite vegetable? Fiddleheads, those young curled tips of fern.

why don't they teach this in school lols how would we ever know all this without RU-vidz

I don't know why everyone keeps promoting the myth that bread keeps better outside the fridge. It is simply not true. Well-sealed bread keeps for over a week in the fridge but becomes moldy and stale within days in a breadbox. I've tried it both ways many times, and in many different climates - dry, humid, cold, warm, I've even lived in drastically different altitudes. If you're not going to consume your bread within 4 or 5 days, put it in the fridge.

Thank you SO MUCH for the tip on how to store mushrooms! I love it every time I learn something new (especially at my age) that helps me save money and lengthens the life of my fresh food! You just got a new subscriber!

Asparagus has more vitamins and minerals in it than your whole head of cauliflower + it tastes delicious!

I adore your delivery. I am engaged. Great articulation and natural charisma. I love mushrooms!!!

This might be the most useful video I've ever watched on RU-vid, period. Thank you so much for your content !!!!!

I am so happy I found you today. I am happy to see that your happy. Thanks so much for taking the time to help people clean, & give tips on things. You have a great week.

The tomato paste! THANK YOU! I've always felt the same. I make croutons and eat them as snacks when I have excess bread. Because they're dried out, they have a much longer shelf life, and they're easy to make.

We used to pick asparagus wild where we lived in BC, in OK Falls when I was a kid. We picked it by the brown bag full, Mom would blanche and freeze it for winter. I LOVE asparagus. I don't think its inferior to cauliflower at ALL.

I've never tried asparagus so I can't tell but I am, for sure, an avocado cray-cray. Avocado cray-crays team, thumb up my comment, let's find out how many of us are out there!

Not sure if you can get this now since you did this video, but here in UK our tomato paste come in a tube, which is great as can just squeeze out what you need, I sure you can get it there. Thank you for the great tips, it helps as veg goes off fast.😀

Love asparagus my all time favorite!! Love mushrooms too...

wow I love that tomato paste idea!

Bagged or fresh lettuce wash then dry with clean white tea towel or kitchen roll( place don’t crush) into a plastic Tupperware container with lid- add wet/ damp kitchen roll over the lettuce then wrap cling film over lettuce then put the lid on -your lettuce will easily last 6 days also change kitchen roll after 5 days or wash and dry roughly then place in a mason jar with damp kitchen roll on the top add lid salad fine for up to 5 days When making up salads make sure hard stuff goes in bottom with wet stuff then gradually build up ie - mayo vinegar either on the bottom or separately into a little pot then tomatoes chopped peppers chopped shredded carrots shredded red and white onions beans like cooked kidney beans or pinto beans separately washed and drained cooked corn then any meats or fish like chopped ham chopped chicken chopped forked tuna or mashed up hard boiled eggs then maybe 1 desert spoon of either cooked rice or cooked cold pasta or pre cooked cold potatoes chopped then huge piles of washed spinach or lettuce with sesame seeds chai seeds flax seeds add damp kitchen roll and lid tape plastic fork to lid and wrap whole thing in napkin/ serviette and attach small dressing pot to lid or pot dressing

I was told by my female doctor to eat asparagus because the smell means it is cleaning your bladder and kidneys. BTW, thank you for your excellent tips, so much appreciated.

The tomato paste tip I use for pasta sauce (we never use the whole jar at once), rice and beans, soups, ground meats (cooked or raw), cooked rice and other grains (barley, quinoa, farro), cooked small pieces of pasta like elbows. Just put in enough to be able to press the bag to about 1/2” thick (or 1” if you’re strong), mark contents, and freeze flat. When you need something, it’s easy to break off just what you need.

I freeze my bread as I live alone and it comes out beautifully every time. Never wash berries or any soft fruit or vegetable until you are ready to eat it. Putting damp soft vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator will cause them to rot within 36 hours. These things only take a few minutes to do and save you so much money I hate to waste food so I do everything I can to keep it fresh. Asparagus has never made my pee smell. Many times I buy a lot on sale and I will roast it and then freeze it in packages with my FoodSaver. The tips get almost french fried ended it is so good I have eaten 2 lb in one sitting before thinking I was going to put half or more in the freezer!

I love all mushrooms and asparagus. I have been freezing leftover tomato paste for years. But I think all of your tips are great thank you.

I love mushrooms, asparagus & cauliflower! I store cleaned celery in filtered water, suvmerged, and covered and change the water daily.

Love these food-storing tips! Storing fresh herbs like parsley and cilantro and basil is a challenge I’d like to see covered.

One tip I learned: don't buy too much fresh groceries at once.

Hey Melissa....did you know tomato paste also comes in TUBES?? one just squeezes out what one needs and the rest goes in the fridge....almost to infinity!!

Asparagus is delicious and Great with mushrooms, shallots and garlic. Parsley in a glass container on the counter or fridge is unpredictable. My family would wash and freeze the parsley. Let us know

I use to hate mushrooms up until my 20’s. Now I love, love, love them. 🥴 i like asparagus, but my dogs love it, you’d think i was giving them a bone. 🤗

You can also freeze the unused portion of tomato paste. Make sure you trim off the ends of Aspragus. Asparagus is not overated, but the prices are.

asparagus is bae! asparagus made the right way is actually the best vegetable you will ever eat!!

Love your show! Perhaps you can help me. I don’t « love » mushrooms, but for a decade now I literally CRAVE them raw. Eating just one will satisfy my craving but I don’t understand why I crave them. Any ideas?

Yes yes yes more please. Love the tips. Cleaned Onion skins hard stems from herbs n celery leaves n wilty bits etc chop up n freeze n use to season water for broth then just strain out n throw in compost.

Speaking of "artisanal mayonnaise", I wonder if turning the jar upside down and shaking the mayo towards the cap like you did with the cottage cheese would help that to stay fresh longer, too. I'm always reading about how it's the "air" that makes food go bad fast. It's what they preach with the vacuum sealer bags. Anyway, have you heard anything about mayo or tartar sauce? I make a good quick & easy tartar sauce that my husband adores but if I make it in large quantities it gets a stale taste and smell fast. I don't know why my posts always end up so darn long...but here goes again. I adore Asparagus! But only if it's not overcooked. Hold it by the end and if it bends more than just a tiny bit it's too cooked for me. And I like it best with just butter and lemon juice or balsamic vinegar, S & P. Hollandaise Sauce is great but I'd never eat it if I had to make it myself. Also... parsley and cilantro keep a really long time if you treat it like you did the asparagus. Just pop the whole bunch in a glass with an inch or two of water after you wash it, and keep it in the fridge...no need to cover it with plastic. Then break off however much you need without removing the twist tie or elastic band. It stays nice and green and looking like it was just picked.

I cut bottom of veggies, put in glass or something to refresh with water. They are alive and need water. Refreshes them and are amazing. I have donebthis with celery, broccoli and cauliflower. Just change water if you are not using it in the next few days

Asparagus has always been My Favorite Vegetable, I even Have My Kentucky born husband Loving it as Well. He Had never had it before !!! Yum Yum

Love mushrooms & asparagus. Awesome tips! Thank you for sharing.

Mushrooms are a staple in my diet so YES, love them!

Love mushrooms and asparagus💜

Love these food tips videos! I live alone so they really help me save! More videos please.

I appreciate the topic of keeping your produce fresh longer! My observation has been that berries don't last nearly long enough in the original packaging! I keep them dry in a mason jar in the fridge, and they have lasted us much longer.

Fresh herbs are a big challenge however by accident one day while shopping at the grocery store I rapped a bunch of cilantro, rosemary, basil and parsley herbs on paper towels, I left store them with it and to my surprise they lasted about half a week more than the usual amount of time they last me.

Melissa, I try the celery method, it works! I promise %.Thanks!

Yes, more and more of these videos...how to store lemon and spinach

Love Mushrooms and asparaghus. Thanks so much for your awesome tips.

Love mushrooms

I don't know about he bread, FL weather will cause it to mold pretty fast sitting out.

My parents were born in the early 1900s and the always held asparagus in awe. I think they said it was very expensive back than I never ate it and am 70 years old and I still don't eat them. Hate mushrooms too.

Thank you for the aluminum foil wrapping tip.. I also use the same method you use for asparagus for parsley. Cut the ends off in a water container cut about one inch off. When you cut it in water it soaks up water rather than air. Then transfer it to a container with water at the bottom, cap it with plastic bag. Put it in the refrigerator standing up. It lasts long and stays fresh and crisp. I love parsley, a very healthy plant.

freeze the tomato past in an ice cube tray

tomatompaste idea is great!

Celery can be chopped in pieces & placed in plastic bag in freezer.. Tried it & it works. NO blanching required.. Also chopped onions placed in plastic bags ( I use two to three bags to stop smell escaping) can be frozen.. Also when I Buy bunch of spring onions ( shallots) I plant them immediately in garden near front door.. They keep on growing & fresh spring onions when you need some..

Great food storage tips! But I would like to have more tips that are not using plastic bags or foil rapping... Do you have a video on that. I started to be conscientious about the waste that I producing... Thanks!

I ♥️mushrooms!!! All mushrooms! No discrimination :D

love asparagus and mushrooms.

Wow what brilliant ideas of preserving food your videos are a must to everyone who wants to save money especially those who live alone and I love all fruit and vegetables and I always keep my sauces and jams in the fridge and freeze bread thank you for your videos 👍🏼🤠

I loved all your tips except for the full refrigerator one. My father worked for the electric and gas company and has always told us that even if there is no food in your refrigerator you should always try to fill empty cartons or pitchers with water to fill up the space because the fridge uses more electricity totally empty then full and works more efficient too. So I’m not sure but I do believe food needs to breath.

Thank you for your wisdom. Mushrooms are great.

I love mushrooms so much I just wipe the dirt off and get to munching like chips...great dipped in ranch too.

nice job! i love mushrooms and asparagus. I saute asparagus in a bit a butter or olive oil and a touch of honey.. yummmm

I just discovered your channel. THANK YOU !!! So many new (old ) tips! Seriously I am making a list for the grocery tomorrow and I am able to cut down because of the packaging tips. Now, for the asparagus here is my story. My youngest son loves it and I would make his breakfast of scrambled eggs or french toast, which was fine but he also had to have asparagus as well. So, by the time he was finished with the first part of his breakfast was gone the school bus would be rounding the bend. He then would take his hand full of cooked asparagus on the bus to eat ! I know, weird but healthy! Thank you for your tips and I just subscribed to your channel. Keep it up ......please.

Thanks for the tips and just to let you know, I love mushrooms too

i love mushrooms. especially salted with spinach

LOVE the tip for the tomato paste! I have always wondered what to do when recipes do that sort of thing because I never want to waste a whole can of tomato paste for a recipe that wants such a tiny amount.

Love shrooms and calliflower is interesting lately I'm using it lots of different ways ! Thank u for the tips ! Enjoyed you !

zip lock bags cost $$$ !!! freeze bread in its original bag! recycle your old bread bags! I freeze about anything! tomato paste! buy sun-dried tomatoes!!! her zipper bag is only going cost u more $$$!!!!

I buy the squeeze bottle tomato paste, I LOVE mushrooms

Grilled in a pan with a little olive oil. Spritz with lemon juice. Even my dogs love it. It needs to be a little tender. Enjoy. Really like your personality in the video.

Your walk-on intro is hilarious. Auditioning for something? Puh-Leeeaaazee

tomato paste tubes are a thing now too :) just use what you need and close it back up

Mushrooms are SOOOOOO good for you! I love them!

Love mushrooms! Infact, was watching this to find out the best way to store them. Thank you!

We absolutely LOVE asparagus!!! Snap the ends off, then peel the skin off the stalks to about 6 inches from the end. Wash them and then drop them into a pot of boiling water. Let the water come to a boil again and keep them on a medium boil for specific number of minutes - 7 mins. if they are skinny, 10 mins. if they are medium thick, and 14 mins. if they are chunky. This method will insure that the spears are tender. Drain them and put butter and salt on them. Yum! Enjoy! Asparagus is EXTREMELY healthy for you.

Love mushrooms! They're actually cute as well.. that's my wierd thing lol

I appreciate the video. I would love to know how to extend the shelf life for pumpkins and melons. Keep up the good work.

Hooray for asparagus! Get some from a farmer’s market. It will be super fresh, and you’ll see why I love it! It’s a super spring veggie that’s not around for long!

No need to waste tin foil. Just cut your celery and store it in a tupperware of water. It'll last weeks.