One of the effects of the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown resulted in many of us stocking our homes with a large variety of fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains, and more. With the onset of monsoons and the continuing lockdown, food storage becomes an integral part of staying healthy and keeping our immunity up, as the nutritional value of the food products diminishes in unfavorable storage conditions.
Here are some tips to store food accurately during the monsoons:
Leafy Greens
One of the quickest food categories to go bad during this season is leafy greens! While it is ideal to avoid certain foods during monsoons, leafy greens being one of them, it is also important to clean, wash, and store them properly as they wilt and become slimy within days of purchase. The right way to store them would be to wash and rinse them in cold water and put them in the fridge in a box. Avoid storing them in plastic.
Breads
Fungus is highly active during the monsoons. Therefore, bread at home is more likely to turn moldy or attract fungus faster in the monsoons than in other seasons. Bread should be stored in airtight containers and kept in refrigerators. Try to consume it within 2-3 days.
Spices
Moisture in the air is at its peak during this season, which makes powders like sugar, salt, and other spices wet. One way to avoid this is by adding a little bit of roasted, uncooked rice to the powders and storing them in airtight containers.
Pulses, Grains, and Flours
The possibility of bugs and insects infesting flours and pulses is high during monsoons, so it is important to store them in glass jars in the refrigerator to prevent infestation. Adding dried neem leaves to the mix can also prevent bugs and insects.
Cook as much as you can consume; avoid eating leftovers. Additionally, leaving food open and unattended is also not advisable during the season due to the risk of contamination from the excessive number of flies in the air.
Dharana Wellness Centre, a wellness retreat near Mumbai, focuses on holistic health, including physical, mental, and spiritual balance. One of the main pillars of this eco wellness retreat lies in the farm-to-table food philosophy, which encourages an organic approach to consuming food. Fresh produce is picked from the organic farm and prepared using slow-cooking techniques. As an Ayurvedic healing center in India, Dharana combines an integrative, modern approach for holistic health with modern diagnostics and traditional practices like Yoga and Ayurveda to ensure a sustainable wellness journey.
