10+ Tricks to Help You Choose the Best Products at the Store

In the modern world, stores are waiting for us around every corner, and the variety of products they offer us is huge. But sometimes this only makes the situation more difficult. We might run across a product with an overdue expiration date or end up buying unripe or tasteless fruits and vegetables. The good thing is that you can avoid all these things if you know the right tips.

Olives

When choosing olives, it’s better to opt for ones with seeds. This is because after removing the seeds, olives are placed on a pickle that gets inside and can make the fruit look like a mash. Moreover, it overshadows the true taste of the olives when it gets inside.

Salmon

As surprising as it might sound, fresh fish shouldn’t have a well-pronounced fishy smell. If you sense this, it’s likely that the fish isn’t fresh.

Another sign of freshness is color. Salmon fish that are grown on a farm are usually light pink in color, while wild fish normally have darker shades. If there are gray or brown stains on the surface of the fish, it indicates that the fish has been stored for quite a while already.

Dates

Fresh dates can be shriveled, but not too much, nor should they be too tough. Dried fruits are best when they look fleshy and have slightly glossy skin. They shouldn’t have sugar crystals or white spots, as their presence indicates that deterioration has already begun.

Garlic

If a seller declares that the garlic they are selling is fresh, you can test this by checking the smell. If the smell is too pronounced, it’s likely that the vegetable is old or has been stored incorrectly. Moreover, it could also have started rotting inside. You can ask the seller to cut the garlic in half. Look closely at the pattern. If the pattern resembles a flower, it will taste spicier. Hardneck cultivars tend to have a more complex flavor profile than softnecked ones, being richer, and generally more “garlicky.”

Beetroot

When buying beetroots, go for ones with greens, as it will help you to easily identify that the vegetable is fresh. But it’s not always possible to find such beets, which is why you need to make sure to pay attention to the size and the root of the vegetable. It’s better to choose a not-too-big beet without too much hair on the tail, otherwise, you risk getting a tough, non-sweet product.

Quail eggs

When choosing quail eggs, first of all, make sure to carefully check and inspect the condition of the shell: it should not be damaged. It’s worth remembering about shelf life: up to 30 days at room temperature and up to 60 in the refrigerator. If the package has no manufacture date, you can identify the freshness of the eggs by their weight. A fresh egg will weigh 0.35 oz-0.4 oz. If an egg is slightly smaller, it means that quail eggs (just like other types of eggs) have already started to dry up, and you’d better opt for different ones.

Avocado

Any pronounced spots that differ from the main color indicate that something is wrong with the fruit. It is best to avoid avocados with dark skin markings, as this is often a sign that the rotting process has started. You can also put pressure on the area next to the stalk — if you can poke it with your finger, the fruit is likely overripe.

Pomegranate

Sometimes purchasing a pomegranate turns into a disappointment because it turns out to be pale and not sweet inside. In order to avoid such a situation, pay attention to the following: the shape of the fruit shouldn’t make an ideal circle, but rather, it should be angular, as smoothness and firmness of the skin are also indicators of ripeness.

Lemons

First of all, a good lemon can be identified by its weight and the thickness of its skin. The fruit might not seem big at first glance, but it should be heavy. Thin skin and a dimple where the stem used to be with mini lines radiating out of it are a sign of a top-notch lemon. They show that there is a high content of minerals in the fruit.

Bananas

Experts advise choosing bananas based on when you plan to eat them. If it’s for immediate consumption, look for yellow fruits with slightly green tips. If you plan to eat bananas in a few days, give preference to greener fruits.

However, bananas are very easy to confuse with plantains. A plantain is essentially a relative of the banana, but it absolutely has to be cooked to eat it. Plantains have thicker outer peels that you just can’t peel with your hands. Also, these fruits have narrow and elongated ends, whereas bananas have rounded ends.

Are you aware of any tricks that help you choose the tastiest and freshest products in a store?