Often in cooking, there’s no right or wrong way to make a recipe: you can add a dash more salt, use less sugar or substitute butter for oil. When it comes to storing your produce, however, you really should follow the rules. These helpful tips will keep your fruits and veggies fresher longer.
Fruits and vegetables should be kept in different drawers. Some produce emits ethylene (an odorless, tasteless, harmless gas) after it’s been picked, which can further the ripening process of nearby ethylene-sensitive fruits and veggies, causing them to spoil more quickly.
Perforate plastic bags by puncturing them with a sharp household object. Put your produce in these bags to help it breathe while it’s stored in the fridge. Keep mushrooms in paper (not plastic) bags to prevent them from getting slimy. To store herbs and asparagus, cut off the ends and stand the herbs or asparagus upright in a glass of water covered with a plastic bag.
Love grabbing apples off the kitchen counter? Store them out of direct sunlight to keep them crisp. You can put them in an uncovered bowl or paper bag. This goes for bananas, tomatoes, citrus fruits, eggplant and cucumbers too.
Your favorite fruits and veggies will live longer if you store them whole. So, for example, don’t rip off the stem of an apple or peel an orange until you’re ready to eat it.
Do you have any special ways to keep your fruits and veggies fresh?