Trying to use up all your fruits and vegetables before they go bad can be a pain. I can’t tell you how much produce I’ve had to waste because I’ve made the mistake of buying too much, or not using what I’ve bought.
Luckily, there are tons of tricks you can use to help your food last longer, which will leave you with a healthy body and a healthy conscious! Not to mention all the money it will save too!
Continue reading below to see how you can keep your favorite foods from spoiling.
Wrap your celery in tin foil
Most people try to use plastic wrap to to store their vegetables but the problem is that the plastic can cause your celery to lose its consistency and its taste. Try using tin foil instead before you store it away in your refrigerator.
Keep your potatoes in the dark
If your potatoes are exposed to too much sunlight, it’ll be an easy way for them to rot much faster. Try storying them in a dry and dark area instead. Wooden or plastic boxes, or even baskets can help you place them in the perfect area.
Wrap your banana stems in plastic wraps
Sometimes I forget that bananas aren’t supposed to stored away in the fridge. It’s actually much better to keep them at room temperature. And wrapping the stalks on your bananas in plastic food wrap can also help them stay fresh for longer!
Don’t wash your produce before storing them
You should always be sure to wash your produce before eating them, but washing before storing can actually remove one it’s natural defenses against mold and rot.
Store your tomatoes with the stalk facing up
It turns out, even the position of how you store your vegetables can matter for how long they stay fresh– at least for tomatoes. The stalks of tomatoes are the most delicate part of the vegetable and can cause your food to rot faster if you leave them facing downwards. So next time you buy some tomatoes, be sure you store them with the right side facing up!
Keep your onions and garlic in the dark
Like potatoes, having your onions and garlic exposed to too much light can cause them to go dark faster. That’s why it’s better to keep them in a dark place. Using a plastic bag with holes punched for air flow can be a great way to keep them lasting fresh for longer!
Store your peeled vegetables in jars of water
Slicing and peeling your produce before hand can be a great way to save time when you’re cooking meals. Unfortunately, it can also cause your food to go bad faster. One way to make up for this is to store them in water instead. This trick works especially great for carrots and celery!
Fruits and vegetables should be stored in a dry environment
Moisture is a big reason why food gets moldy and spoils. A good way to counteract this is by storing your fruits and vegetables with a paper towel. The towel will absorb any excess moisture, preserving your food for longer.
Store avocados in plastic bag
Unripened avocados should be wrapped in newspaper and then placed in a thick paper bag. Keep these at room temperature. Once ripe, place avocados in a plastic bag and keep them in your refrigerator.
Certain kinds of fruits and vegetables do not belong in the fridge
Storing bell peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes in the fridge will shorten their life span, not increase it. Peppers can lose their consistency if kept in the fridge while tomatoes and cucumbers become slimy.
Moreover, fruits and vegetables should not be stored in the fridge until they’ve ripened. Otherwise, they’ll rot more quickly!
Store fruits and vegetables in the warmer part of the fridge
For those fruits and vegetables that can be stored in the fridge, remember to store them in the warmer parts of the fridge. At lower temperatures, they can lose their aroma and freshness.
Certain fruits and vegetables shouldn’t be stored together
Certain fruits and vegetables should never be stored together. This is because some ripened fruits – bananas, melons, pears, mangoes, plums, tomatoes, and apricots – give off ethylene. Some fruits and veggies like apples, eggplants, potatoes, watermelons, broccoli, carrots, and pumpkins are sensitive to ethylene, so if you place them together, it will accelerate the rotting process.
It’s best to store them separately.
Store asparagus as you would flowers
Asparagus should be stored in a glass filled with water. Store them upright, as you would a bouquet of flowers. This will prolong their shelf life.
Broccoli and cauliflower need moisture
While most veggies and fruits do not like moisture, some like broccoli and cauliflower thrive on it. Store broccoli by keeping its stem in fresh water and covering the upper part with a wet towel. Be sure to change to the water regularly and dampen the towel often.
Cauliflower should also be wrapped in a wet towel.
Please SHARE these nifty tips and tricks with everyone you know!
