Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is important for a healthy diet, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep them fresh for long. If you find that your produce goes bad quickly, it can be frustrating and wasteful. In this article, we’ll go over some tips for keeping your fruits and vegetables fresh for as long as possible.
- Store fruits and vegetables separately
Fruits and vegetables give off different gases as they ripen, so storing them together can cause one or both to spoil more quickly. Keep fruits and vegetables in separate drawers in your fridge or in different areas of your countertop.
- Don’t wash until ready to use
While it’s important to wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them, doing so too early can cause them to spoil more quickly. The excess moisture can lead to mold and rot. Wait until you’re ready to eat or cook your produce before giving them a wash.
- Use the crisper drawer
The crisper drawer in your fridge is designed to keep fruits and vegetables fresh by controlling humidity. Keep vegetables in the high humidity drawer and fruits in the low humidity drawer. If you don’t have separate drawers, consider using a plastic bag with a few holes punched in it to control the humidity.
- Store cut produce properly
Once fruits and vegetables are cut, they start to lose their freshness quickly. Keep cut produce in an airtight container in the fridge and try to use it within a day or two. If you’re not going to use it right away, freeze it for later use.
- Avoid bruising
Bruising can cause produce to spoil more quickly. Handle fruits and vegetables gently and avoid stacking heavy items on top of them. Keep fragile items like berries on top of firmer items to prevent them from getting crushed.
- Keep an eye on ripeness
Different fruits and vegetables ripen at different rates. Keep an eye on your produce and use them before they become overripe. For example, avocados should be used when they’re slightly soft to the touch, while bananas should be used when they’re still slightly green.
- Use ethylene absorbers
Ethylene gas is given off by some fruits and vegetables as they ripen, and it can cause other produce to spoil more quickly. Using ethylene absorbers can help extend the life of your fruits and vegetables. These can be found in some grocery stores or online.
Keeping your fruits and vegetables fresh for as long as possible requires a little bit of knowledge and effort. By storing them separately, not washing until ready to use, using the crisper drawer, storing cut produce properly, avoiding bruising, keeping an eye on ripeness, and using ethylene absorbers, you can enjoy fresh produce for longer and reduce food waste.
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