Doing the weekly food shop is a lot more expensive than it once was. Because of this, making your money go as far as possible is key - which involves cutting down on food waste. 

Unfortunately, this isn't always easy. Fresh produce, especially berries, can spoil pretty quickly even if they're stored in the fridge. However, food storage experts have shared an easy way to prolong their lifespan, keeping them fresh so you can enjoy them for longer. 

Elizabeth Adams from London storage company Urban Locker has hailed the common item as one of the best ways to keep your berries fresh, which are often one of the most perishable items in your fridge. 

She explained: "Berries spoil quickly because they are soft and often carry mould spores from when you bring them home, this causes them to spoil quicker than they should. A quick and simple way to extend the berries shelf life is to remove the mould."

To do this, all you need is some white vinegar, which costs as little as 35p from Tesco. 

Vinegar is a natural antibacterial and antifungal substance and mixing it with a little water will remove the mould and make your berries last longer.

"Berries may look clean but they carry microscopic mould spores from handling, packaging and even being around other fruit. By using vinegar you can get rid of these spores or stop them from forming in the first place," said Elizabeth.

All you need to do is mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a large bowl, then add your berries and move them in the liquid to make sure they are coated.  Let your berries sit for two minutes and then drain them before washing them with cold water to remove the taste of vinegar. 

Then, dry them by spreading them out on some kitchen roll and patting them dry. 

Elizabeth continued: "To store your berries, put them in a container that allows for airflow. You can put some kitchen roll in this container to remove any excess liquid.  This storage method will work for all types of berries and will become even more useful as the weather warms up over the next few months."