The most important thing to look for when buying food is freshness. Shop often, and use food as quickly as possible. Bruised or damaged fruit and vegetables deteriorate quickly, so don’t buy them. Always wash fruit if the skin is to be eaten, as there may be a residue of insecticides or other chemicals. Most packaged foods now carry a “sell by” or “best before” date, so check this and make sure that there are no signs of damage to packages, cans, or jars.
Food stored in the refrigerator should be in clean, covered containers. Store cooked and raw foods on separate shelves, and put raw meat and fish on a plate so the juices don’t drip onto food on the shelf below. Check the packaging to see if food is suitable for freezing, and never freeze foods for longer that the time recommended by the manufacturer. Always defrost frozen foods thoroughly in the refrigerator before using, and never refreeze food once it has been defrosted.
