How to Keep Fruits and Vegetables Fresh

Everyone should eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. But most of us end up throwing away some produce because it becomes spoiled before we eat it. Follow these steps to help keep your produce as fresh as possible.

1. Shop Smart
Buy only the produce that your family likes and will eat. There’s no use to stock up on the fresh cabbage that is on sale if everyone hates it. Consider whether you kids take fruit in their school lunches or if you will use it in recipes. Keep in mind that many fresh fruits won’t store well for longer than a week (except apples). So shop accordingly.

2. Buy From the Farmers’ Market
If possible, head to your local farmers’ market. The fruit and vegetables will be much very fresh (generally picked the same day). At some grocery stores, produce has been picked weeks before.

3. Store It In the Proper Place
Berries, grapes, plums, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach all belong in the refrigerator, while apples, bananas, tomatoes, citrus fruits and many other fruits and veggies can be stored on the countertop. They should be stored unwashed and always at room temperature. Eggplant goes bad quickly and should be used within a couple days of purchase and stored in a cool area. Asparagus should be stored in the refrigerator with a moist paper towel around the stems or can be stood up in a glass of cold water with a damp paper towel wrapped around the tops to keep them crisp; they’ll still only be at their peak for a day or two.

Other vegetables, to retain its freshness, need to be washed before storing in the proper place. (Image credit: www.awesomecuisine.com)

For herbs, there ways to keep it fresh longer: wash them before they go in the fridge, dry them well, cut off the ends, and put them in a glass of water like a little bunch of flowers. You can cover the tops with a plastic bag or damp paper towel to lock in the moisture. You can also store washed and dried herbs in a plastic bag along with a paper towel, which will absorb extra moisture and make the environment more humid.

Some fruits can ripen on the counter and then move to the refrigerator such as avocados, peaches and kiwi. Mushrooms should be stored in paper bags. Potatoes and onions should be in cool, dry environment — not in your fridge.

4. Separate the Ethylene Producers
Apples, cantaloupe, bananas, figs and others are ethylene gas producers are should be kept away from other fruits and vegetables to avoid spoilage.

5. Use the Crisper
Your refrigerators should have special drawers or crispers to keep your produce from spoiling. The Samsung 29 cu. ft. French Door refrigerator has an external digital display and control, cool tight doors and the CoolSelect Pantry drawer to keep your food as fresh as possible.

Source: sheknows.com,  foodnetwork.com
Image credit: sheknows.com