Storing food

Ellen Says: Many types of food don't need to be kept in the fridge to keep them safe to eat, for example dry foods such as rice, pasta and flour, many types of drinks, tinned foods, and unopened jars. But it's still important to take care how you store them.

Try to keep food in sealed bags or containers. This helps to keep them fresh and stops anything falling into the food by accident. Don't store food or drinks near cleaning products or other chemicals. Don't use old food containers to store household chemicals, and don't store food in containers that have been used for other purposes. Only reuse plastic water bottles if they’re not damaged and you can clean them. Don't store food on the floor, because this can encourage mice, ants and other pests.Keep the storage area dry and not too warm.

Remember that some types of food might need to be kept in the fridge once you’ve opened them – follow any storage instructions on the label. Best before' dates are more about quality than safety, so when the date runs out it doesn't mean the food will be harmful, it just means it might begin to lose its flavour and texture.

However, you shouldn't eat eggs after the 'best before' date