Fresh obsessed

If you have time to do a big grocery trip only once a week or so, you may find your fruits and vegetables start to go bad before you even have a chance to eat them. Following these storage steps will help keep your produce fresher longer.

It can be so frustrating when you buy a pile of fruits and vegetables — because you’re trying to eat your recommended daily amount — only to have it start rotting before you have a chance to eat them. While it’s obviously best to eat them as soon as you can, sometimes that’s just not possible. Here are a few ways to help keep your fresh produce fresh for longer.

Store fruits and vegetables separately in the fridge

Combining certain fruits and vegetables can cause ethylene gas to build up in your fridge, which can contribute to them rotting faster. Use the drawers in your fridge to keep them separate. The drawers are designed so that they maintain moisture to help prolong the freshness of your food.

Skip the fridge for some produce

Not everything needs to go in the fridge. Garlic, onions, root vegetables, bananas, melons and tomatoes are all examples of what should be left at room temperature. Lemons and limes should also be stored at room temp — keep a bowl of them on the counter or table (they also make a vibrant center piece).

Stash herbs so they stay moist

Fresh herbs are a fantastic way to add loads of flavour to healthy dishes, but they do tend to deteriorate fairly quickly. To prolong their freshness, wash the herbs, shake them dry, snip off the ends and place them upright in a glass of water (much like a bouquet of flowers in a vase) in your fridge. To further help them retain moisture, you can place a plastic bag or damp paper towel over the top of the glass. If you don’t have room in your fridge for this “vase” of herbs, place a damp paper towel in your bag of herbs, and then store the bag in the crisper drawer.

Keep berries fresh in the fridge

Berries need to be kept in the refrigerator. Place them unwashed in the fridge. Wash them only immediately before you plan to eat them.

Keep some paper bags handy

For certain fruits that still need to ripen, store them in a brown paper bag. These include avocados, mangos, plums, peaches and pears. Once they’ve ripened a bit (give them a tender squeeze — they should give a little if they’re ripe), take them out of the bag and store in the fridge.

More about produce

How to keep your produce fresh
The problem with fruits and vegetables
E. coli and produce