Sentry Foods

MEATS

Ham/Bacon Tips
Want to keep ham or bacon fresh for a little longer? Try wrapping it in a vinegar-soaked cloth and then a layer of wax paper before refrigerating. Or, if you're just trying to keep from wasting it, invite a teen-age boy over. But if there's anything you don't want devoured, better put it under lock and key.

Frozen Meat
Hey, just because you're putting meat in the freezer doesn't mean it'll last forever. Assuming you store everything in airtight containers (and remember to label them), here are some approximate lengths they'll stay fresh:

Ground beef - 3 months
Lunchmeats or bacon (both unopened) - 1 month
Whole chicken or turkey - 1 year
Beef jerkey - Quite possibly until the Chicago Cubs win a World Series, or forever, whichever comes first

Ground Beef Tips
Be sure to refrigerate or freeze ground beef as soon as you get it home. If you're going to use it soon, you can leave it in its original container. If you're freezing it for a longer period, it's best to wrap it tightly in plastic freezer wrap or bags, aluminum foil, or freezer paper. It should retain its flavor for 3 months or so... after that it may be about as flavorful as the ground beef from all those other stores. Zing!

PRODUCE

Keeping Onions Fresh
Onions can make you cry, but hopefully not because they're flavorless. To keep them fresh longer, wrap them individually in newspaper and store them in a cool, dark place. (NOT under the sink - moisture from pipes can accelerate spoilage.) As for the newspaper, we suggest you not wrap them in the obituaries. Just a thought.

Restoring Overripe Tomatoes
Just like us, as tomatoes age, they become soft and wrinkly. For a little Botox-like shot, leave the overripe tomatoes in cold, salty water overnight. By morning, they should look as good as a self-absorbed celebrity.

Storing Produce Together
Tired of the next door neighbor's band practice till 2 a.m.? Fruit and vegetables can be inconsiderate too. It's never a good idea to leave cucumbers and tomatoes together because the gasses from tomatoes can make the cucumbers spoil faster. Apples are lousy neighbors too, so keep them away from other produce. Who knew apples could be so anti-social?

SEAFOOD

Keeping Seafood Fresh
If it's going to take you over an hour to get your fresh seafood home, transport it in a cooler. Then, store it in the coldest part of your refrigerator, as close to 32° F as possible. Since most refrigerators operate at about 40° F, you won't want to keep it refrigerated more than a couple days. And you know what they say about fish and houseguests (although you probably shouldn't store houseguests in the same fashion.)

Thawing Seafood
Here's one of those "Did ya know" items: never defrost frozen seafood at room temperature or with hot or warm water. That can create bacteria. Instead, thaw in the fridge, or if in a hurry, under running water (with the seafood in a bag). You can also use the microwave to parthially thaw it, on the lowest defrost setting. Be careful not to star the cooking process. Starting the wine-drinking process, that's a different story.

Storing Left Overs
The best way to store leftover seafood is to refrigerate or freeze it in shallow containers, to allow proper air circulation. And if ever the phrase "When in doubt, throw it out" applied, this is it. Just be sure to put it in the disposal or VERY tightly wrapped, sealed bags. You'll thank us later!

DELI

Keeping It "Fresh"
Hmm, how do you keep something fresh that's supposed to get better as it ages? (Cheese-in-a-can excluded.) Well, let's just concentrate on keeping the mold off it. Wrap your "fresh" cheese tightly in plastic, to keep air out, and store it in the fridge. That'll keep it tasting the best when you're ready to eat it. If it does get a little moldy, simply scrape the mold away - like you used to do with your food back in college.

Freezing Cheese
Because most ripened or aged cheese is low in moisture content, it can be frozen without wrecking the taste or texture. But be sure to thaw it out for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator before eating. And be warned, if left in the freezer for several months, it can dry out and crumble when thawed. ("Big whoop" you bleu cheese fans are thinking.)

Storing Cold Cuts
You can keep cold cuts fresh for up to a couple weeks by rolling them up and putting them in a covered glass jar before refrigerating. Even pimento loaf, if, for whatever reason, you really want to keep it around longer.

BAKERY

Keeping Cookies Fresh
What's better than fresh-baked cookies? That's a rhetorical question, but really, fresh cookies are awesome. And to keep them fresh longer, put a slice of white bread in the cookie jar or container. The bread will absorb any extra moisture. And you'll be able to absorb more fresh cookies.

Keeping Bread Fresh
Feeding stale bread to birds is fun... if you're 3 or 83. Anywhere in between, it's more fun to eat bread. And to keep it fresh longer, try placing a rib of celery in the bag with it. We're not scientists, so we don't know exactly why that works. We're just happy that it does.

Keeping Cake Moist
So who doesn't like cake? Especially when it's fresh? Well, here's a tip to keep it fresh longer. Put half an apple in the cake box to keep it moist and delicious. "If that's true, shouldn't apple cake stay fresh on its own?" you may ask. Hmm, well now that's one to ponder. We'll get back to you on that.