Fed up with discovering unwanted mouldy surprises in your jars when readying a meal?
A kitchen maestro has unveiled a brilliant tip that promises to prolong the life of your favourite sauces and spreads, using an item you’ve probably got in your cupboard.
Culinary expert Christina Soteriou swears by this hack for keeping half-finished jars of pesto or exotic sauces safe from spoilage.
Simply adding a drizzle of olive oil on top can prevent premature mould growth.
Christina said: “Adding a thin layer of olive oil on top of your condiments creates a seal that prevents bacteria from getting into the product.”
Here’s what you need to do: get rid of any lingering sauce around the rim; press down the contents to create space below the lid; then anoint the surface with a shielding veil of oil just a slim layer will do the trick.
This technique is versatile, suitable for everything from pesto to chilli oils, minced garlic, tomato paste, and more.
Always remember to inspect your jars before use though if the colour’s off or it smells weird, no olive oil wizardry can salvage it, reports the Mirror.
The success of this preservation method hinges on the caliber of olive oil used the finer the oil, the fresher it keeps your food.
Thrifty foodies are raving about a simple kitchen hack to prolong the life of products stored in oil, such as sundried tomatoes and pesto.
The advice is to cover the contents with a thin layer of oil after use to prevent spoilage.
Appreciative comments have been pouring in on social media where the tip was shared, earning kudos from those keen to reduce their food waste and save pennies.
One person wrote, “We do this with pesto and it lasts loads longer,” while another asked, “Thanks for the tip! ! Cannot wait to try it, I have a jar of opened pesto in the fridge right now but leaving for a holiday for 10 days. Do you think it will last until I come using this method or should I just freeze it?”
A fellow food saver said:, “Wow. My rose harissa goes mouldy after a week after opening. I’m not using it daily. Going to try this.”
Meanwhile, someone else proclaimed that this approach will “absolutely revolutionise” their fridge habits.
One particular testimonial comes from a user whose grandmother has kept her pickles fresh using this very trick, claiming it “works like a charm”.
