Mom never told me not to do this: Food Storage

These are posts about the simple things in the kitchen that you can do to get off on the right foot. Simple things that I somehow missed growing up and therefore had to learn the hard way.

So, food storage is not the sexiest of topics, this I understand. But, I am beginning to learn that it is actually important.

I recently made a pecan pie. It was delicious, if not a bit undercooked. (Note: if you are going to use a frozen pie crust - Sorry, Ellen- the pie probably needs to cook for a lot longer than the recipe calls for).

I then ate parts of it, and covered it and put it in the fridge. My husband, whose patience continues to astound me, was not amused. He reminded me that you should completely cover food when putting it into the refrigerator or storing it on the counter. Um, in my mind, the pie on the left here is covered. See, no pie sticking out!

Yeah, that's not right. This is right:

See? Complete pie covering. In fact, I was informed, foil is not necessarily the best medium for covering food like this since it is not air tight. It might even be better to use plastic.

Or even, better, plastic containers like so:

I might have begun nesting, because I really got a kick out of these containers and how perfectly they all held our Christmas feast. Look how cute!

Seriously, I am slightly obsessed with cute containers these days. Perhaps this is all that was missing from my life originally- the ability to store things in cute containers. I also recently put stuff from my dresser drawers into their own sub drawers within the dresser and became obsessed with an Ikea shelving unit. Oh hormones, for someone who thought only passingly about the ways in which my home was put together and didn't realize that you can and might think about how to organize your bathroom, you are doing a number on me these days.

Yeah.

OK, so the bottom line is: store your food properly. If not, how will you get to savor and enjoy all the delicious things you have recently learned how to cook?

Mom Never Told Me Not to Do This: Don’t start the recipe until all the ingredients are out.

These are posts about the simple things in the kitchen that you can do to get off on the right foot. Simple things that I somehow missed growing up and therefore had to learn the hard way.

When I get a recipe that calls for several different ingredients, spices, and two pans, I now do the logical thing: I get out all the ingredients, the pans, do a load of dishes so I have a clear sink and clear countertop to work, make sure I have enough spices, and a cutting board and a knife. This is new for me. What I used to do was get the ingredients and tools out, as I needed them, while working.

This caused many problems.

The first was that I would often still be cutting and washing things while the first step of the recipe was burning in the pan. The second was that I would often get ¾ of the way through a recipe only to realize I did not actually own any cumin. I would then make the rest of dish, but the ingredient I left out was invariably a key ingredient and I would end up with something that was not at all tasty. Or too mushy. Or didn’t blend well. As I become a better cook, I get better at improvising. And better at understanding which ingredients are actually key to a recipe and which just add a finishing touch. So, the lack of an ingredient means I don’t necessary have to stop cooking. But, at least now I know about it before the heat is on.

Having enough space to work is also a relatively new revelation. It is rare that a recipe only takes a cutting board’s worth of space, particularly if you’ve got it out ahead of time. A clean sink also makes a world’s difference. Having the ability to rinse something (particularly if you have a clumsy streak and drop it on the floor, ahem), or the ability to put one ingredient aside while you focus on another one is invaluable.

There’s also something quite pleasurable at looking at everything all chopped up and ready to go, all in a nice row, prepped and waiting.


A sense of order and preparedness in this otherwise chaotic and quickly changing world. I guess what I’m saying is that food can change your life! It’s the answer to all your problems! Hallelujah and praise the Kale!