We never want to waste food, but fresh produce doesn’t always last as long as we’d like. If you can’t get to the grocery frequently, you might have to buy more produce at once and need some tips to make it last longer. Here are some tips:
Store fruits and vegetables separately. Many fruits produce Ethylene and many vegetables are sensitive to it. There are exceptions on both lists of course, but this is a good general rule.
Store squash, potatoes and onions in a cool dry and dark place. Don’t put them in the fridge if you can help it, as the cold air can affect the flavour. Store them separately as well because they can spoil each other.
Did you know if you store tomatoes stem side down they last longer? It prevents the air from getting into the top of the tomato through the stem which slows down the ripening process.
Store fresh herbs and greens in paper towels and place them in zip lock bags. This stops excess moisture from spoiling your greens.
Do you hate brown spots on bananas? Wrap the stem in plastic wrap.
Wrap your celery in tin foil to keep it firm longer.
Clean out your fridge each week. I’m not saying you need to wash it out each week, but go through the contents and use up produce that’s about to go bad. If you do end up with rotten food, it’s best to catch it right away because it will spoil your fresh food faster. If there is mold you should definitely wash out the fridge!
Don’t wash berries until you are ready to eat them. I’m not sure why this works but it does.
Do you have other tips? Share them with us!
Happy cooking and many blessings,
Lady Black