How To Keep Your Fruits And Veggies Fresh?
Keeping your fruits and veggies fresh does not have to be complicated. There are many different ways to store your produce that can ensure that your fruit and vegetables will be just as fresh as the day you bought them. With a few simple tips, you will have fresh produce all week long. Follow the guide below for the best way to store your produce to keep it fresh!
On the countertop
There are many fruits that ripen best at room temperature before placing them in the fridge. These fruits benefit most from this method because it maximizes their flavour and sweetness. Just make sure to check on them periodically, so they don’t over-ripen. If you want to use the produce more quickly than it is ripening, then place the fruit in a paper bag with a ripe banana; this method will speed up the ripening process. But, make sure to check on the fruit every day to ensure the best possible ripeness. Below are the fruits that are best kept on the counter before placing them in the fridge:
- Melons
- Avocados
- Peaches
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Pears
- Kiwis
- Tomatoes
In the fridge
The best tip to keep produce fresh is to store fruits and vegetables separately in the refrigerator! This is because some fruits release ethylene gas that can spoil veggies before you eat them. It is best to use a crisper drawer, this will keep the right moisture level to maintain freshness for longer. The following fruits and veggies are best kept in the fridge:
- Grapes
- Apples
- Lemons
- Limes
- Berries
- Peppers
- Carrots
- Green beans
- Zucchini
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
In the pantry
The pantry is a great cool, dry, and dark place to store produce to keep it fresher longer. This storage place is a simple, easy way to keep vegetables on hand for the week. A helpful tip to maintain freshness is to keep onions away from other vegetables; onions release a gas that may spoil other produce. The following are best kept in the pantry to maintain freshness:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Sweet potatoes
- Potatoes
- Winter squash
In the freezer
The freezer is an excellent way of preserving produce at its peak ripeness and nutritional quality. Freezing fruits and vegetables at home is also a quick and easy way to store them for future use. For nights when you do not feel like prepping veggies, pulling a bag of broccoli out of the freezer can save you time and the headache of preparing food after a long day. This method can also help you reduce your food waste by saving veggie scraps for making homemade veggie broth. Here are a few ideas for freezing fresh produce:
- Frozen strawberries
- Frozen peeled bananas
- Frozen grapes
- Frozen blueberries
- Frozen broccoli
- Frozen carrot, onion, celery scraps
With the help of these tips and tricks, you will surely be able to keep your fruits and veggies fresh!
