5 Foods to Toss From Your Pantry and How to Store Them Instead

We spend our hard-earned money and time getting food from the grocery store and farmers market, but are we storing it the right way? Many of us are guilty of stocking certain foods in the pantry when, in reality, this is causing them to spoil sooner. Instead, you should be keeping these foods in a controlled temperature environment — aka, the fridge— inside airtight containers to help extend their shelf life and keep them fresher for longer. 

Some of the food items listed below surprise you, but we’ll give you a hint: one of them is nuts. How many of the others below have you been storing wrong? It’s time to start doing it the right way and grab the proper food storage containers for your fridge. With prices starting at just $5 at Amazon, this is a worthy investment to keep food at its best.    

Best Amazon Fridge Organization Products Overall

• OXO Good Grips Pop Container, $15, originally $19
• Vtopmart 3-Piece 34-Ounce Glass Food Storage Jar Set, $23 with Prime, originally $28
• YouCopia FridgeView Fridge Turntable, $11, originally $15
• Hoojo 8-Piece Refrigerator Organizer Bin Set, $21
• Rubbermaid Brilliance 14-Piece Food Storage Container Set, $32, originally $40
• Stasher 3-Piece Premium Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bag Set, $34, originally $49
• Dowan Large Butter Dish, $14, originally $19
• Pyrex 1-Cup Food Storage Container, $5 

It’s well-known that the cost of groceries is rising, so we found solutions to keep everything from nuts to open condiments around longer. Shop top picks from Pyrex, OXO, Rubbermaid, and more, and get your kitchen storage in order.

Nuts & Seeds 

Do you buy bags of cashews, almonds, and sunflower seeds, eagerly munch on them, and then toss the bag into the pantry? Wrong! To keep these fantastic sources of healthy fats, proteins, and fiber at their optimal freshness for longer, nuts and seeds should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. This ensures they don’t go rancid, and their quality is not affected. If you start in the fridge, they’ll be more easily snackable.

• Vtopmart 6-Piece Food Storage Container Set, $20, originally $26 
• OXO 2.8-Quart Good Grips Pop Container, $15, originally $19
• ComSaf 4-Piece Glass Storage Container Set, $20 with Prime, originally $25
• FreshKeeper 2-Piece Food Dispenser Set, $20, originally $22
• Vtopmart 3-Piece Glass Food Storage Jar Set, $23 with Prime, originally $28

OXO Good Grips 2.8-Quart Pop Container

The OXO Good Grips Pop container’s lid creates an airtight seal with a simple push of the button. This 2.8-quart container is ideal for storing “large bags of mixed nuts,” wrote one happy customer. The clear plastic base lets you easily see when it needs to be refilled, and you’ll never get your almonds and cashews confused. Over 3,000 shoppers have purchased it in the past month, and right now, it’s on sale for $15.

Vtopmart 3-Piece Glass Food Storage Jar Set

This 3-piece set of Mason jars is ideal for storing multiple types of nuts and seeds. Each glass jar has a 34-ounce capacity and a lid with a rubber gasket that creates a “nice tight seal so no moisture gets in,” stated one reviewer who uses them to store chia seeds, among other nuts and seeds. Before switching to storing another type of nut or seed, the brand recommends that the jars be washed by hand.

Open Condiments

There are many condiments that, once opened, should be kept refrigerated to prevent them from spoiling or developing mold. Think dairy-based condiments, like mayonnaise, and other condiments, like organic maple syrup and natural peanut butter. Infused olive oils add flavor to our dishes, but if left at room temperature, they can grow bacteria. Fruit- and vegetable-based condiments — like salsa and pesto — belong in the fridge, too. With the right tools, it’s easy to keep them organized and findable, even in a crowded refrigerator.

• ClearSpace 2-Piece Fridge Organizer Set, $19 with Prime, originally $25
• YouCopia FridgeView Fridge Turntable, $11, originally $15 
• Hoojo 8-Piece Refrigerator Organizer Bin Set, $21
• Simple Houseware 4-Piece Clear Storage Bin Organizer Set, $19, originally $22
• YouCopia Rollout Fridge Caddy Organizer Bin, $14 with Prime, originally $20
• Landneoo 2-Piece Lazy Susan Organizer Set, $15, originally $19

Hoojo 8-Piece Refrigerator Organizer Bin Set 

These fridge organizer bins provide ample room to store condiments and more. One satisfied shopper has even put their condiments in the bins in order of what is needed for certain meals. For example, when it’s burger night, they “just pull out the condiment bin” from the refrigerator, and it has everything they need to dress up their patties. The plastic bins have a built-in handle, so you can easily pull them out or carry them.  

YouCopia FridgeView Fridge Turntable

Can’t find your favorite jar of peanut butter? Simply spin this turntable — no need to root around the back of your fridge shelves. (And you just might spin it around a few times for the fun of it.) It’s close to 11 inches in diameter and has non-slip feet to keep it from sliding around. Get it on sale for $11 and keep your ketchup, mustard, and more within reach.

Cut Citrus Fruits

Whether you’ve peeled an orange, cut up slices of lemons and limes, or halved a grapefruit, citrus pieces need to be refrigerated so they don’t dry out or go bad. An airtight container in the refrigerator will extend the shelf life of cut citrus fruit, letting you enjoy the juicy tidbits for longer.

• Rubbermaid Brilliance 14-Piece Food Storage Container Set, $32, originally $40 
• Stasher 3-Piece Premium Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bag Set, $34, originally $49
• Freshmage 5-Piece Fruit Container Set, $18, originally $20
• Joie Fresh Pod Lemon Storage Container, $6, originally $10
• Debbie Meyer 40-Piece Greenbag Set, $20
• Cottify 12+1 Reusable Produce Bag Set, $24, originally $30 

Rubbermaid Brilliance 14-Piece Food Storage Container Set 

These shopper-loved Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are also some of our favorite food storage containers we’ve tested. We found much to love about these plastic containers, from their snap-on, airtight lids to their affordable price. But don’t take just our word for it: One reviewer wrote that their “sliced lemons have remained fresh for three weeks” in one of these nifty containers. The 14-piece set is even more budget-friendly than usual — it’s on sale for a little over $2 apiece.

Stasher 3-Piece Premium Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bags 

If you’re snacking on orange segments or slicing up lemons for drinks, this silicone bag set by Stasher will come in handy. These editor-loved reusable bags provide an airtight seal so citrus pieces won’t dry out, plus they’re a way to avoid microplastics. The 3-piece set has 1-cup, 2-cup, and 4-cup bags, and since they’re bowl-shaped, they stand up as you add or dispense contents.  

Fresh Nut Butter 

If slathering homemade almond butter on toast or fruit is up your alley, you’ve likely noticed that the oil tends to separate when the jar is stored at room temperature, requiring you to stir and blend it back in next time. That’s not necessarily a sign that it’s gone bad; that just means there are no commercial stabilizers in it. However, to preserve the shelf life of fresh nut butter, you should keep it in the fridge, especially if the jar has already been opened — it will last much longer/. The obvious solution: Keep it in the refrigerator to maintain quality and taste — we recommend a butter crock or a glass jar.

ComSaf 8-Piece Mini Mason Jar Set

Stash a big batch of nut butter in this 8-piece mini Mason jar set, and keep them for yourself or give a few jars away to friends. That’s what one shopper does, who reported: “These jars are a perfect size for homemade jelly or nut butter, and the people I give them to can reuse them.”  Each jar holds 4 ounces and has split-type lids that are airtight and leakproof. At $10 for the set, that’s around $1 apiece — but the deal is exclusive to Amazon Prime members.

Dowan Large Butter Dish

This Dowan butter dish measures 6.5 x 3.4 x 3.1 inches, and one reviewer wrote it’s “just perfect for 1 pound of my homemade butter.”  The ceramic dish has a wooden lid with an airtight silicone seal to ensure butter stays fresh. It has scored more than 11,500 perfect ratings, and over 1,000 shoppers have bought it in the last month. Grab one for your kitchen while it’s on sale for $16.