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5 Tips For Keeping Fruits And Veggies Fresh

Having a nice stock of fruits and vegetables at all times is so nice to have, but don’t you hate to have to throw out those nutritious foods when they go bad before you can gobble them up? Don’t throw away those yummy foods (and your money!), learn how to store them properly and you will have a better chance to eat them while they’re still crisp and delicious.

Keep Your Produce Out Of Direct Sunlight

Keeping tomatoes in the sun will strip them of their flavor and texture. The higher temperature will also cause most fruits and vegetables to rot faster. Potatoes will start to sprout if not kept out of the sunlight.

Watch Out For Ethylene

All fruits and vegetables produce a gas called ethylene. This gas helps fruits and vegetables ripen faster. When stored in an airtight bag, the gas produces quicker which causes ripening even faster. To avoid this, store your fruits and vegetables in separate crispers to avoid them cross-contaminating each other with excess ethylene. Also, try poking holes in the bags you store any fruits or veggies, or choose containers like plastic clam shells that let the food breathe.

You Can Always Freeze Your Fruits And Vegetables

You don’t have to go to the store to buy bags of frozen broccoli or strawberries. You can cut up and freeze fresh produce for long-term storage as well. Be sure to wash the produce before freezing it to kill any existing bacteria.

Know How Long Your Produce Will Last For

There are many handy charts available online that will show the ripening cycle for a given fruit or vegetable. You should be able to get this information at the grocery store as well. Knowing that bananas will usually last for seven days if you buy them green and usually for only five days when purchased yellow will help you keep track of your fruits and veggies so you can eat them when they are perfect.

Produce Bags And Water Are Your Friend

Storing asparagus and other herbs in water will keep them fresh longer. Putting them in specialized produce bags will keep all vegetables out of the sunlight and stay at room temperature. These green or black bags can be purchased online or at the grocery store.

It’s not hard to keep your fruits and veggies fresh, you just have to know what to do! Keep them at room temperature or lower, freeze what you don’t plan on using and learn how long a particular food item will last. All of these tricks will save you money while allowing you to enjoy your favorite produce whenever you want it.

About the Author

Carly Lance thinks of herself as a personal finance junkie and loves to blog about saving money, frugal living and getting out of debt whenever she can. She believes a happy life = happy finances. Carly is also employed by Personal Bankruptcy Canada, a company of experts in the bankruptcy and insolvency act.

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