• To retain the crispiness of leftover fried poppadums while refrigerating, keep them in a plastic polythene bag.

• To increase the shelf life of dry masalas store them in airtight containers with a cube of asafoetida.

• Add a teaspoon of hot oil to homemade pastes of garlic, ginger or green chilli, along with salt to make them last longer and taste fresher.

• Keep roasted chapattis wrapped in a cloth in a closed container. This will help keep them from sweating or getting soggy or getting dry. They will remain soft for a long time.

• One may cut and keep vegetables, beans, carrots, etc. previous night for an early meal next day. But put them in a bowl, not tightly packed and slip the bowl into a polythene bag, knotting the mouth loosely. This way the chopped vegetables will stay crisp and fresh till used.

• Wrap half-cut raw mangoes in cling film before storing in refrigerator. The mango will stay fresh longer.