15 Kitchen Accessories That Will Help Your Food Last Longer

With winter in full swing, many of us are doing more home cooking than ever. However, the abundance of groceries means you might find yourself forgetting about that bunch of bananas on your counter that suddenly turned brown or potatoes that sprouted a fuzzy mold colony. You can combat the scourge of mushy guacamole and wilted lettuce with the right products that help safeguard food against the main culprits of spoilage: air and moisture. Save yourself from yet another trip to the grocery store by keeping food fresher for longer with these 15 kitchen essentials.

1. Silicone Food Huggers; $11

Extend the life of your fruits and vegetables with some silicone produce huggers. These accessories wrap around fruits and veggies to help create a seal to hold in natural juices and reduce exposure to air, keeping everything fresher for longer. These silicone huggers can also be used to cap open jars and are microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe.

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2. Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver Food Storage Container; From $11

These innovative containers feature a unique vent design that allows air to keep flowing through them while the CrispTray at the bottom works to keep moisture away from the produce. These are simple to use and work great for fruits and veggies.

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3. BluApple Produce Freshness Saver Balls; $14

These funny-looking apples are prefilled with an activated carbon packet that absorbs ethylene gas to slow down the spoilage of the produce they're near. All you have to do is add one of these Bluapples into the crisper drawer and let science do its thing (the activated carbon also helps reduce odors!) Just make sure you replace the packets every three months.

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4. GERYON Vacuum Sealer Machine; $46

You want to keep as much air away from your food as possible, and that's exactly what a vacuum sealer is designed to do. Just place your food in a bag, put the open end in the vacuum chamber, close the lid, and the machine will suck all that pesky air out before resealing the bag for you. You can use it with both fresh and prepared foods, and this model also has a gentle seal option for chips and pretzels.

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5. Large Vejibag; $23

Vejibags are an eco-friendly solution if you're not keen on more plastic. These organic cotton bags help vegetables remain crisp for twice as long because they create a humid environment for produce while also letting them breathe. No more brown, slimy greens in your salad.

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6. Lasting Freshness 11-Piece Vacuum Seal Food Storage Container set; $43

The BPA-free food storage containers come with a handheld pump to remove air and moisture, providing a barrier between your food and the destructive elements outside. For anyone who likes to experiment, you can also use the vacuum-seal feature to help you marinate meats and make pickles.

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7. Stasher silicone sandwich bag; From $12

Another alternative to plastic, these reusable silicone bags have a tight-lock seal to help food retain its nutrients and flavors. These bags are also great for storing items, marinating, and even sous vide.

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8. Avocado Saver, Pack of 2; $11

Avocados can go from a vibrant green lunch to a mushy, brown nightmare in minutes. The key is to limit exposure to air, which you can do with this contraption. Place an avocado half, skin side up, on the plastic base, and use the rubber strap like a seatbelt to keep it in place (think of it as a car seat for your delicious pride and joy). It will give any avocado a bit more life, and there's even space for the pit, too.

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9. Fridge Bin Liners; $7

These fridge liners absorb excess moisture from produce to retain crispness. Each machine-washable sheet can be cut to fit, so you can stick them in tight drawers and across entire shelves.

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10. Airscape Coffee and Food storage canister Bin Liners; $36

Too much coffee in bulk? You can make the excess joe last longer with these storage canisters that remove air and lock out humidity. Storing coffee is all about finding a cool, dry place, and these canisters are also built to reduce UV exposure.

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11. Formaticum Cheese Storage Bags; From $14

Buying an entire wheel of brie sounds like a great idea until you're rushing to down the last bite before it goes bad. These polyethylene and wax-coated paper bags help regulate humidity to prolong a cheese's freshness. Each bag also has printed markers for easy labeling.

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12. OXO Steel Vacuum Wine Saver and Preserver with Two Stoppers; $18

You can safely ditch the cork, because this vacuum wine saver helps extract air to preserve the flavor and aromas of your favorite vino. This device fits most standard wine bottles and only takes a few seconds to use. No need to choose between letting wine go bad or drinking an entire bottle in one sitting ever again.

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13. OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Herb Keeper; From $13

Ever buy a bundle of fresh herbs for a recipe only to end up with way too much left over? This device will keep those greens fresh long enough to use in your next dish. All you need to do with this herb keeper is add water to the bottom to help keep herbs hydrated, while the basket helps promote air circulation.

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14. Portable Bag Sealer; From $8

This bag sealer is one of the easiest ways to keep your chips nice and crisp for the long haul. The device uses a heat clip to reseal bags, and it comes with a cutting blade to easily open them back up again. Say goodbye to those plastic chip clips.

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15. RoyalHouse Bamboo Bread Box; $23

The instructions “store in a cool, dry place” are there for a reason. So extend the life of your beloved carbs with this bamboo bread box, which is designed to be way more breathable than keeping your rolls and pastries in a plastic bag on the counter. As a bonus, the shelf can slide out and be used as a cutting board.

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A version of this article originally ran in 2021; it has been updated for 2022.