Mistake: Allowing pantry staples to go bad.
You’re well aware that fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products can spoil. But did you know that many items that are typically stored at room temperature can too? Often, the culprit is small amounts of fat that go rancid.
How to fix it: “Dry yeast should be kept in the freezer unless it is used every day. Instant and active dry yeasts can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a year with no detriment,” Beckman says. “Flour and nuts can also be kept in the freezer, as they have components that will go bad in a few weeks if kept at room temperature.”
Also, buy small quantities of oil—as much as you estimate you’ll use in a month—and store at room temperature, he adds.
