By Subhash Kumar Cooking ingredients always seem to have their natural places in the kitchen. The bottle which is used daily is kept near the stove, the ghee jar is put at the back of the shelf, and the older bottles containing oils sit at the back of the shelf till somebody notices it. None of this seems particularly important while cooking, but storage does count. Heat, light, and moisture are not good buddies of cooking oil. But some tweaks to the cooking environment can increase the lifespan of the cooking oils.
Move The Bottle Away From The Hob
It is practical to have oils near the stove since the bottle is within reach every time you have to fry ingredients. The disadvantage is that the vicinity of the stove gets warm. It would be much better to choose a cool corner, far from the stove. In case the bottle has guidelines for storage, it will be advisable to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations rather than general suggestions. An online grocery store can make replacing a bottle easy, but good storage starts once it reaches the kitchen.
Find A Better Spot Than The Windowsill
A kitchen windowsill might seem like a handy place for ingredients used every day. But it also gets the most sunlight. So, it is crucial to make sure that ghee and cooking oils are kept in a cupboard that is protected from light or heat exposure. There is no need to transfer everything into decorative containers. The original packaging is usually perfectly practical when it is stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep Water Away From The Ghee Jar
This is especially easy to forget when cooking gets messy. In case you have used ghee, ensure that the spoon you put inside the container is clean and dry. Do not use a damp spoon simply because it is closer to you. If the outside of the container becomes greasy, then clean it using a piece of cloth. Avoiding water from reaching the content is an easy task.
Close The Lid Before You Carry On Cooking
The bottle can remain open for quite some time before cooking begins. You can pour the required amount of oil in the pan and get started with chopping your vegetables; meanwhile, you forget the open bottle lying next to you. Always remember to put the lid on once you have used the desired amount of oil. This helps keep unnecessary air and moisture away from the contents. The same rule applies to ghee, particularly when the jar is used regularly.
Buy According To How Quickly You Cook
A huge bottle may look like better value, but it is not always the sensible option. If a particular oil is used only occasionally, choose a quantity that you are likely to finish comfortably. Before buying more oils, check what is already sitting in the cupboard. An online grocery store can be useful here because you can quickly compare pack sizes and add only what the kitchen actually needs.
Make The Weekly Shopping Work For You
There is no reason to wait until the last few drops are left before replacing an everyday staple. When placing an online grocery store order, check the kitchen cupboard at the same time. Add cooking oil, ghee or anything else that is running low along with the regular groceries. Instamart is one option for ordering groceries online when a quick top up is more convenient than another trip to the shop.
Let The Product Label Have The Final Say
Recommendations regarding storage may vary from product to product. Hence, proper labelling of the packages is crucial. Stick to the manufacturer’s guidelines and make sure you keep your bottles tightly closed. The great thing about these practices is that they are relatively simple to adopt, and there is no need to change your cooking methods. The biggest advantage of these processes is that they are very simple and do not really require you to make any changes in your cooking.