What are the best ways to ensure your food products last longer?

1 Choose quality ingredients

One of the most important factors that determine the shelf life of your food products is the quality of the ingredients you use. Fresh, wholesome, and unprocessed ingredients tend to last longer than spoiled, contaminated, or adulterated ones. You should source your ingredients from reliable and certified suppliers, and inspect them for any signs of damage, decay, or infestation. You should also avoid using ingredients that are prone to oxidation, rancidity, or microbial growth, such as fats, oils, dairy, and meat.

2 Use appropriate packaging

Another key factor that affects the shelf life of your food products is the type and quality of packaging you use. Packaging serves as a barrier against external factors that can cause deterioration, such as light, oxygen, moisture, and pests. You should choose packaging materials that are suitable for your product type, size, shape, and texture, and that can withstand the processing, handling, and transportation conditions. You should also use packaging techniques that can enhance the preservation of your products, such as vacuum sealing, modified atmosphere packaging, or aseptic packaging.

3 Apply preservation methods

Depending on the nature and composition of your food products, you may need to apply some preservation methods to extend their shelf life. Preservation methods are designed to reduce or eliminate the factors that cause spoilage, such as enzymes, bacteria, fungi, or insects. Some of the most common preservation methods are thermal processing, freezing, drying, salting, smoking, fermenting, or adding preservatives. You should follow the recommended guidelines and standards for each method, and ensure that they do not alter the quality or safety of your products.

4 Maintain optimal storage conditions

Once your food products are packaged and preserved, you need to store them in optimal conditions to maintain their shelf life. Storage conditions refer to the temperature, humidity, light, and air quality of the environment where you keep your products. You should monitor and control these conditions regularly, and avoid any fluctuations or extremes that can cause spoilage or damage. You should also follow the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle, and rotate your stock according to the expiration dates.

5 Ensure safe distribution

The final step to ensure your food products last longer is to ensure their safe distribution to your customers or retailers. Distribution involves the transportation and delivery of your products from your facility to their destination. You should use vehicles and equipment that are clean, sanitized, and well-maintained, and that can preserve the temperature and integrity of your products. You should also follow the best practices and regulations for food safety and traceability, and keep records of your shipments and invoices.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?