Follow these tips to keep all your ingredients and leftovers tasting fresh and free from contamination.

Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Hot Pot Food Storage

Every year, the United States throws away nearly 40 percent of its food. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, that adds up to more than $160 billion wasted per year.

There's nothing worse than being forced to toss (previously) perfectly good produce, dairy, or meat just because it was stored in an improper way. Here's exactly how to organize foods inside your fridge so they'll live their longest and best-tasting life—your wallet and the world as we know it will thank you, too. Once you read these storage tips, be sure to read our comprehensive guide to how long you can store every type of food next.

For a comprehensive cold-storage chart, consult the federal food-safety website, foodsafety.gov.

USDA. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States. Date Accessed February 21, 2023.

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