Generally speaking, most people have an idea of what foods are perishable and what foods are not. Perishable foods are usually found in refrigerated or frozen sections of the store, while food that is packaged in a sealed can, bag, or container that was not in a refrigerated case is going to be a non-perishable — making perishable goods rather easy to spot.
While it is pretty easy to tell the difference between perishable and non-perishable food at the grocery store, the act of determining how fast different perishable items will spoil is much more difficult. As a manufacturer of food ice packs and ice packs of shipping, we believe it would be beneficial to flag 10 of the foods that spoil the easiest that you might find in your kitchen.
Berries
Once a berry is plucked from its stem an unseen timer starts to go off — the countdown to their spoiling. Berries typically become moldy after even one day of being unrefrigerated, but keeping them cool can keep them fresh for up to eight days!
Avocados
Avocados are a frustrating fruit, being that they seem under-ripe until what feels like the day they become too mushy. Keeping them cool can extend their quality by up to 10 days.
Kale
Leafy greens like kale are known to degrade quickly. Keeping kale cool in the crisper can keep it fresh for up to 10 days. Add a damp paper towel to keep it from drying out.
Hummus
Did you know that your favorite chick-pea snack can spoil after even an hour or two on the counter? Keeping your hummus cool can extend the life to almost six days before it begins to spoil.
Cooked Grains
Foods that have been heated and cooled are prime suspects for developing bacteria. Keep your cooked grains in the refrigerator for a safe snack up to six days after you cook it!
Yogurt
Yogurt can spoil at incredible rates when not kept in a sealed package or kept in the refrigerator. So buy smaller single-seal packages to avoid wasting your food.
Fish
Fish is one of the fastest meats to spoil. If you cook fish be sure to store it in the refrigerator immediately. But eat it fast, it is suggested that fish spoils as quickly as two days post meal.
Cooked Vegetables
Cooked vegetables perish much faster than vegetables in their raw form. That being said, as long as you eat the leftovers within five to seven days you should be fine.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
While eggs might be packaged in their own natural packaging, they are still vulnerable to spoiling. Hard-boiled eggs can even spoil within two hours of being cooked if not stored properly. By keeping them cool they can last up to a week.
Mushrooms
Once a mushroom is broken off of its root it has 10 days to be eaten, even less if they are sliced. So keep them cool in the refrigerator!
But What If I Am Taking Perishables On The Go?
No worries! Just grab a cooler and a Herolily food ice pack. Our ice packs for shipping are designed to keep food cool for days of transit, so rest easy knowing that our food ice packs are working to keep your edible items safe.
Shop online for Herolily food ice packs today!