Vegetables are easy-to-prepare. But at the same time, they are hard to store. With plastic bags, they remain fresh in the refrigerator for much longer.

Sure, the large can of sardines costs less per pound than the smaller can, but you don't want to eat sardines every night. Buy what you will eat, or you'll be wasting space, and just making your kitchen smell bad basically.

The same is true for diary products. If you will be using only a half-pint of sour cream for the whole month, why buy a gallon tub? Try to take note of how much dairy you use, and buy accordingly. These foods spoil fast, so overbuying can leave you with a bunch of waste.

Pickles last longer because they have vinegar in it. If you are a fan of pickles, buy them in bulk. Besides their long-lasting nature, they can be stored anywhere - in refrigerator, pantry or cabinets.

The skyrocketing cost of food is a harsh reality. The worst part, it is not going to go away. Making soups and stews at home not only will save you some bucks, but storing them in freezer will make them last longer - up to a month or more.

These foods are made to trim costs. With the escalated cost of vegetables, this is a sacrifice that you can chose to make. Moreover, frozen foods are as good as fresh, if they are stored well.

For example, adding coconut to your favorite chicken soup will spoil the dish. Choose only those items that keep the food fresh - like lemon, soy sauce and so on.

The most important step to cost-effective cooking as well as storing the food effectively is to decide logically what you are going to cook for the week or month. Make a meal plan before you go shopping to be sure you're buying no more and no less than what you really need.

Never let the frozen meat, seafood or poultry stay in the same supermarket wrapping. Guard them against freezer burn by double wrapping in freezer paper or placing them in a resealable plastic bag.

Some foods are only fresh for a certain period of time: it can be a few weeks or a few months. Part of the strategy of storing them by category is to maximize their life. Keep foods that expire sooner towards to top and front of your fridge so you're reminded to use them sooner.

Check the items in your pantry and see all the ways they could be put to good use. Almost every food item can be used in a variety of dishes, so if you only have one meal idea for something, look for new ideas on how to use it.

In this case, what fruit you want to eat, and the way you are going to choose the type of fruit is to select it by season. In-season fruits will not only last longer, but they will definitely taste better.

Simply marinating the leftover meat, veggies and fruits with salt, sugar or vinegar will extend the life of these foods.

Foods stay fresh if you have an opened can of baking soda in your refrigerator and pantry.