20 ways you're probably shortening the lifespan of common foods

Though you may see cute bowls of exposed eggs or open cartons on Instagram, it's best to keep eggs in their original containers if you want them to have a long shelf life, according to Clare Langan, San Francisco-based chef and culinary consultant.

If you live in the US, it's also important to store eggs in the fridge, according to Janilyn Hutchings, a certified food-safety professional at State Food Safety.

"If you let eggs stay out, condensation could form on the shells and make them more vulnerable to bacteria," Hutchings told Insider.

According to the New York Times, most US egg producers are required to wash their eggs with soaps and enzymes that weaken the shell's protective cuticle. This makes the egg more susceptible to bacteria, so it's necessary to keep it refrigerated.

However, in other places around the world, like the UK, it isn't as common or necessary to keep eggs in the fridge.

In countries like the UK, such egg washing is prohibited, making refrigeration unnecessary. But once an egg is stored in the fridge, whether at the store or in your home, it should stay there.

The best way to go about storing cheese is by removing it from the plastic wrap it came in, according to Megan Wong, a registered dietitian at AlgaeCal. Instead, specialty cheese paper will garner the best results.

"I always recommend cheese paper as a way to store cheese when it is available to my customers," Chris Roelli, master cheesemaker at Roelli Cheese Haus, told Insider.

Another option is to use a clingy plastic wrap, according to Roelli. Make sure to wrap the cheese in it tightly and then place the block inside a resealable bag in the fridge.

If you regularly put your bread in the fridge, you've probably been causing it to go stale much faster than it would at room temperature, according to Wong.

"The best place to store bread is on the counter," she told Insider. "But if you aren't able to finish it before it starts going stale, keep it in the freezer."

One issue with putting all of your fruit in the same basket is that some fruits produce ethylene gas, Wong said, which speeds up the ripening process.

Instead, keep produce like bananas, apples, pears, and tomatoes apart from each other when possible.

Putting your butter in the fridge is fine, but it's important to keep it away from strong-smelling foods since it has a tendency to absorb other aromas, according to Langan.

"If you aren't going to use your butter within a couple weeks, store it in the freezer," she told Insider.

If you've been storing your potatoes near your onions, you might notice your potatoes are sprouting more quickly, according to Lynell Ross, certified health and wellness coach and food-safety-certified nutritionist.

"The best way to store potatoes for the longest life is in a dark, cool, dry yet well-ventilated container like a crate or bin with holes," Ross told Insider.

Unpeeled, uncut onions should also be kept out of the refrigerator, which can cause them to soften and change flavor, she explained.

Instead, store them on your countertop in the light or in the pantry away from potatoes.

If you store your leafy, green vegetables in the plastic bags they came in from the supermarket, they will go bad very quickly, according to Ross.

Instead, she said, she suggests washing and drying the greens before wrapping them in paper towels and keeping them in the crisper drawer or in glass food-storage containers.

A common mistake when storing fresh herbs is placing them in the fridge right after bringing them home from the store, according to Wong. This can cause the herbs to dry out and brown due to the overexposure to oxygen.

It's best to wash your herbs thoroughly, as dirt and bacteria can speed up the decay, Wong said. Just be sure to dry them completely before storing them.

"After they're clean and dry, trim the ends of these herbs and put them in a jar with a few inches of cool water," she told Insider. "Cover the jar with a plastic bag to keep them moist and prevent discoloration and change the water every few days."

Storing your brown sugar in the bag or box it came in is a big mistake, according to Wong, as it can cause it to harden.

"Instead, keep it in an airtight container in a cool, moist area," she told Insider. "You can try adding a slice of bread, apples, or even marshmallows to keep the brown sugar moist and clump-free."

When it comes to storing berries, it's imperative to avoid stacking them, according to Wong.

"Store them in a wider container to avoid stacking, allowing moisture to evaporate," she told Insider. "Place a dry towel on top to absorb extra moisture and prevent molding."

Also avoid placing berries on the counter, as they will mold a lot faster, according to Ross.

Storing tomatoes in the fridge will affect the ripening process and the flavor, according to Wong. Instead, place tomatoes on the counter away from sunlight and in a single layer.

If your tomatoes are overripe, that's when you can think about putting them in the fridge.

"These healthy snacks turn rancid when you store them in the pantry for too long," Ross told Insider. "Nuts and seeds contain oil which spoils if kept at room temperature for more than two to three months."

If you buy nuts and seeds in bulk, Ross said you should store them in the freezer.

When you want some, pull out smaller quantities to keep in storage containers in the fridge — away from things like garlic as nuts can take on the flavors of things around them.

If you want to enjoy your ice cream for longer, don't put it in the freezer door because that's where the temperature will fluctuate the most, according to Wong.

Instead, place your ice cream in the back of your freezer, so there is less of a chance of it melting and refreezing.

"The worst thing you can do to your cereals, chips, and crackers is to put opened packages back in the pantry without sealing them back up tightly," Ross told Insider. "Moisture will seep in, ruining them overnight."

For best storage practices, put the rest of these kinds of snacks into a resealable bag, squeeze out the air, and then place them back in the pantry.

By putting your melon in the fridge before cutting into it, you will ruin the flavor and texture, according to Ross.

"To maintain the best flavor, melons should be kept on the counter at room temperature until ripe," she told Insider. "Then once cut, they should be stored in the refrigerator."

After you've cut up your fruit, it's essential to put it in the fridge soon after, according to Hutchings.

When fruit is cut, it becomes a TCS food, which is food that requires time and temperature control for safety. This just means that it's more susceptible to bacterial growth, Hutchings explained.

If cut fruit is left out of the fridge for four hours or more, it should be thrown away.

Meats should always be placed on the lower shelves of the fridge and kept away from foods that don't require any cooking, such as fruit and salad, according to Hutchings.

"When organizing your fridge or freezer, you should always put raw meats at the bottom to prevent the chance of meat juices dripping onto lower shelves," she told Insider.

Ideally, the shelves will be ordered by cooking temperature — with ready-to-eat foods at the top and raw foods on the bottom.

You could be shortening the lifespan of your leftovers if you place large containers of hot leftovers in the fridge, according to Hutchings.

"Large containers of leftovers can take a long time to cool, which gives bacteria an opportunity to multiply to dangerous levels," she told Insider.

If you have a lot of leftovers, divide it into smaller containers to help it cool more quickly, she suggested.

"Get in the habit of putting milk away right after you use it," Hutchings told Insider.

Milk is more susceptible to spoiling than other shelf-stable foods, so if you leave your milk out for too long, bacteria can grow, she explained.

If you put away your dips, mustards, ketchups, or sauces without closing the lids properly, you will shorten their lifespan, according to Ross.

Make sure to screw the top on tight and always wipe off the lids before placing the bottles back in the refrigerator.

Read More:

• 18 ways you're storing groceries wrong that are cutting down their shelf life
• 15 foods you can eat past their expiration dates
• 14 foods that can last longer than you think
• How to stop these 10 foods from going stale