Eating a healthy diet can be a challenge, especially when it comes to keeping produce fresh for longer periods of time. Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential nutrients, so it’s important to know how to store them properly to prevent spoilage. Here are some tips on how to make your produce last longer.
Where Should I Store My Produce?
The key to keeping produce fresh is knowing where to store it. Some fruits, like tomatoes, avocados, bananas, and pears, should be kept on the countertop until they ripen. Once ripe, they can be stored in the refrigerator for a few more days. On the other hand, vegetables like onions, garlic, potatoes, and winter squash should be stored in a cool, dry pantry to prevent texture and flavor changes when exposed to moisture.
Any other produce should be stored in the refrigerator, especially fruits and vegetables that are already ripe or cut into pieces. Using crisper drawers in the refrigerator can help protect produce and maintain freshness for longer periods of time.
Don’t Store These Foods Together
Ethylene is a gas released by most fruits and vegetables that can cause produce to ripen quickly. Ethylene-producing fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, avocados, and tomatoes should not be stored with ethylene-sensitive produce like carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, and herbs. Storing ethylene-sensitive foods in the refrigerator, in a separate crisper drawer from ethylene-producing items, can help reduce sensitivity to ethylene and prevent premature ripening.
4 Tips to Make Produce Last Longer
1. Remove Tops Off Root Veggies: Cut off the leafy tops of root vegetables like carrots, beets, and radishes to prevent them from rotting quickly.
2. Use Your Crisper Drawer: Store produce in crisper drawers to protect it and maintain moisture for longer freshness. Separate fruits from vegetables and ethylene-producing items from ethylene-sensitive items.
3. Keep Fresh Herbs Upright: Trim the ends of fresh herbs and store them upright in a mug covered with a produce bag to keep them fresh longer.
4. Wash Leafy Greens: Rinse leafy greens under cool water, pat them dry, wrap them in a clean towel, and store them in a sealed container to maintain optimal freshness.
The Bottom Line
Learning how to store produce properly can help you eat fresh, whole foods without waste. By applying these tips to your grocery routine, you can make healthy eating more convenient and sustainable. With a little planning and care, you can get the most nutritional value from your food while saving money and time in the kitchen.