Do you find yourself emptying your fridge and cupboards of rotten food all too often? You might be making some of these common food storage mistakes. Here, we’ll show you how to prolong the life of your food, keep it fresh and, as a result, save a bunch of money at the grocery store.

Nuts
Most people throw nuts into a plastic bag and into the pantry without question, however, it’s actually best to keep nuts in the refrigerator. This will keep the nuts fresher for a longer period of time, as it slows the loss of natural oils. Check out this brilliant idea for storing condiments in your fridge.

Potatoes
While many people have always stored potatoes in the refrigerator, this can actually cause them to become mushy and bruised quicker than if they were kept at room temperature. The pantry or any kitchen cupboard is the best place to store unpeeled potatoes. Keeping them away from excessive heat, cold and sunlight will prolong the freshness of your potatoes and prevent bruising. Make room for potatoes in your pantry with these clever storage ideas.

Milk
You should never store milk in the door of the fridge, even if it’s convenient. This exposes the milk to warmer temperatures every time the door is opened, which can cause it to spoil faster. If you aren’t a consistent milk drinker, the back of the fridge is the best place to store milk.

Raw Meat
Raw meat is often just thrown on whichever shelf or drawer of the fridge is open, but doing this could be ruining the other foods in your refrigerator. Raw meat packages can leak, which can contaminate any other foods that touch them. Keeping the package on a plate on one of the lowest shelves in your refrigerator is best, as it’s easier to clean if a leak does occur, and it reduces the exposure to warm air, which helps to prevent spoiling.

If you want to keep your refrigerator running smoothly, here are 6 ways to avoid refrigerator problems.

Bread
Many people believe that putting bread loaves in the fridge can prolong freshness, however this can actually cause bread to get stale faster because it crystallizes the starch molecules. Keeping it in a covered place at room temperature will keep your bread softer longer. Click here for more ways to organize your cupboards.

Avocados
The misconception is that avocados, like other produce, should be stored in a refrigerator to prevent over-ripening. The truth is this can actually prevent avocados from getting fully ripened, keeping them too firm. To make sure you get a perfectly creamy avocado, it is best to keep avocados out on a counter or shelf until the outside feels slightly tender. Click here to learn how to build your own produce baskets!

Fruits and Veggies
Many people store produce together, in a fruit bowl, for example. But that’s a no-no. Many fruits and vegetables emit or react to ethylene gas, which can actually cause them to deteriorate faster. Different types of fruits and vegetables are best stored separately.

Did you know that there are five fruits that most people think are vegetables?

Lettuce
If lettuce is exposed to moisture for too long, such as in a sealed plastic bag, it can cause the leaves to become soggy and slimy. To keep your lettuce fresh and crisp, keep it in a perforated bag or container where condensation can escape and the leaves can stay dry. Once you’ve taken care of the condensation on your lettuce, here’s how to take care of condensation on your windows.

Onions
Rather than keeping whole, unpeeled onions on the counter or in the refrigerator, which many homeowners do, you should instead store them in a mesh bag in a cool and dry place, such as a pantry or even in an unfinished basement. Too much moisture will cause onions to sprout and rot quickly. Did you know that you can clean your grill with an onion? Here’s how!

Herbs
If you store your fresh herbs in the fridge in a twisted-shut plastic produce bag from the grocery store, you’re doing it all wrong! For that sharp herb flavor, keep your herbs dry and at room temperature. Wrapping them in a paper towel and keeping them in a plastic bag on the counter is the best way to store your fresh herbs. Click here for some eco-friendly bag options.