10 Tips for buying the Freshest Products in the Supermarket

1. Mayonnaise and packaged salads and dips

Mayonnaise is a very sensitive product and storing it in unsuitable conditions may be dangerous so, before purchasing, check the storage instructions for the product before and after opening. Don’t purchase a jar of mayonnaise that looks bloated or one which has a little mayo leaking out of it.

If the mayonnaise is stored in a transparent jar, make sure the contents are uniform in texture, free of liquid and not discolored. Ready-made salads sold in plastic boxes or glass jars must be stored in a refrigerator and according to the instructions of the FDA, these products should not be bought if they are not stored at the recommended temperature, usually found on the packaging.

2. Legumes and dried fruits

Legumes and dried fruits are often sold in closed plastic bags, but there are shops that sell their wares in bulk, and thus the products are exposed to pests, insects, bacteria and other troublemakers. For example, if there are foreign objects in the package such as pieces of wood, pieces of metal or thin spider-like threads, these may indicate that the product was held in unsuitable conditions and that it may be stale, damaged and/or not suitable for consumption.

3. Vegetables

When buying vegetables, the phrase "you eat with your eyes" is even more correct, because damaged vegetables with a pale appearance or unfamiliar signs indicate a lack of freshness. Sometimes these signs even warn of health problems that may be caused by them, and although vegetables are a symbol of health and proper nutrition, it is very important to know how to choose them correctly:

• Potatoes - It is recommended not to buy green potatoes or potatoes with green spots, because they will not ripen at home, like bananas would, for example. Avoid potatoes with a defect or sprouts because, unlike fresh potatoes, they contain a high amount of toxins that can cause dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, problems in the nervous system, nausea and in extreme cases of concentrated consumption, even death.
• Cucumbers, eggplants, mushrooms, cauliflower, and broccoli - Cucumbers are better to buy when their color ranges from greenish to dark green, and if they are yellow or white, they are not fresh or not yet edible. A cucumber should be hard all the way through and not too thick. Fresh eggplant should be purchased only when it is solid and has a light purple color. The darker the eggplant, the riper and less fresh it is. Cauliflower and broccoli are vegetables that often contain worms, so make sure that you don’t see any black spots on the florets and that they’re hard and not soft. Mushrooms should be bought only when they are closed and their cap is attached to the stem since once the mushroom begins to open, it darkens slightly and begins its aging process. Non-fresh mushrooms are forbidden to eat and some are dangerous to consume in this condition.
• Onions - In order to choose a good onion, make sure it is solid, clean and without black spots or soft areas. If the stalk starts to sprout, it means that it has been lying on the shelf for a long time. Smell the onion and see if it smells strange, if so don’t take it! The onion should not have a strong smell unless it is damaged, cut or spoiled. When buying green onions, it is important to check that the border between the green and white parts is clear, if it is dark or greenish, the onions will be hard and not edible.

4. Frozen products

When you need to buy frozen products during your shopping trip, make sure you buy them at the end, as they may melt and spoil while you put other products into the cart. And what should be checked? First, feel the packaging and note that the product is completely frozen and without soft areas indicating an early thawing. Also, avoid buying a chilled product that is not cold to the touch.

Read the product's storage instructions and check how many degrees it should be kept in. Look for the temperature gauge that looks like a dial/digital clock in each freezer, and check that the numbers listed are no different than those listed in the storage instructions. If there is a significant difference between the recommended cooling temperature of the product and that shown in the store freezer, avoid buying the product.

5. Chocolate

Chocolate is a "spoiled" product that is recommended to buy in air-conditioned places only because incorrect storage conditions can damage its taste, quality, and appearance. High-quality dark chocolate contains at least 56% cocoa solids, compared to a good dairy chocolate that will contain about 36%. Also, make sure the product contains cocoa butter or natural cocoa oil, and no other vegetable oils. Make sure the packaging is sealed well

6. Canned food/baby food

Many foods, including baby foods, are sold in cans, some of which are made of metal and some of which are glass or flexible plastic packaging that bacteria can penetrate, which can be seen by the following signs:

• Tin canned food - There must be no signs of leaks, rust, damage, and of course, no bloated boxes should be purchased.
• Food in glass jars - It is important to check that the lid of the jar is sunken in and not popped and that it is firmly attached.
• Food in flexible packaging - Some foods are packaged in flexible packages, such as chestnuts and baby food porridge. Note that the packaging is complete, not filled with air and without damage on the outside.

7. Fresh meat

What should you check when you go to buy fresh meat besides the cleanliness of the area where the butchers are? Well, the first thing you should focus on is the color of the meat which should be in shades of red-pink and not glossy. If its color is brown or bright red, it is a sign that it is not fresh meat. If you can touch the meat or ask the butcher to press the meat, do so because fresh meat is flexible and the meat will spring back after pressing, as opposed to thawed or old meat that does not.

When buying fresh minced meat, there is an important rule that you must not forget: Buy meat that has been ground in front of you. Ask the butcher not to add the meat from the initial grinding that comes out of the machine if it had not been used since because the remaining meat left in the machine was not in proper cooling conditions and may have been exposed to various bacteria.

8. Eggs

When you buy eggs, look for the marking stamp that appears on each egg. Each has two dates; the upper indicates until when the eggs can be sold and the bottom indicates until when they can be eaten if kept in the refrigerator. Even if the eggs are kept refrigerated at the store and you see that the last date for use in the refrigerator is still valid, but the marketing date has passed, it is recommended not to buy them.