Make Them Final
One of the simplest ways to retailer your produce depends upon the sort and the way ripe it’s to begin with. Some fruits and veggies ought to go proper into the fridge. You need to depart others on the counter or in a fruit bowl, at the least for some time. If you know the way finest to maintain every merchandise, they’re going to last more and style higher too.
Apples
Should you plan to eat your apples shortly, it is OK to maintain them on the counter as much as per week. However, they’re going to final loads longer (4 to six weeks) within the fridge. Apples give off ethylene gasoline, which makes different produce ripen quicker. So, it is best to maintain apples away out of your different fruits and veggies except you need them to get ripe quick.
Berries
Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and different berries are fragile and do not maintain contemporary for lengthy it doesn’t matter what you do. Do not wash them till it is time to eat. Maintain them dry in a container within the fridge. Recent raspberries and strawberries solely maintain 2 to three days even within the fridge. Blueberries can maintain for 1 or 2 weeks. If you wish to maintain your contemporary berries longer, you’ll be able to freeze them for as much as a yr.
Bananas
If bananas are inexperienced or not but ripe sufficient to eat, maintain them on the counter or on a banana hanger. Do not put them within the fridge. As soon as they ripen, you’ll be able to maintain them for 3 days within the fridge, however the pores and skin will flip black.
Citrus
Citrus fruits, together with lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit, can maintain for some time on the counter. However they’re going to final loads longer — as much as 3 weeks — within the fridge. Maintain them unfastened within the crisper drawer or in a mesh bag.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes will maintain till they’re tender, ripe, and able to eat. As soon as ripe, they’re going to final for one more week on the counter or within the pantry away from solar or warmth. You should not put tomatoes within the fridge. It modifications the best way they style and makes them go unhealthy quicker. However one exception to that rule: put tomatoes within the fridge when you’ve lower them.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
Broccoli, broccoli raab (rapini), and cauliflower will maintain within the fridge for 3 to five days. It is best to place them in a drawer away from different produce.
Lettuce and Different Greens
You need to maintain lettuce and different leafy greens resembling kale, spinach, or collards within the fridge. Lettuce ought to maintain for per week or two. Spinach will not final for greater than per week. Different greens will keep contemporary for as much as 4 days within the fridge. In case your greens have been pre-packaged or bagged, they’re going to maintain for much less time — about 3 to five days. Do not hold on to bagged greens for greater than 2 days after opening them.
Avocados
One of the simplest ways to maintain avocados depends upon whether or not they’re able to eat. You do not wish to eat avocados which might be arduous. Ripe avocados will really feel comfortable, however not mushy. Maintain arduous avocados on the counter to allow them to ripen at room temperature. As soon as they’re ripe, you’ll be able to maintain them contemporary just a little longer by placing them within the fridge. A ripe avocado will maintain for 3 to 4 days when saved within the fridge.
Root Greens
Put root greens like carrots, parsnips, radishes, turnips, and beets within the fridge. Carrots and parsnips will keep contemporary within the fridge for as much as 3 weeks. Radishes, turnips, and beets will final about 2 weeks. As an alternative of the fridge, it is best to maintain potatoes and candy potatoes within the pantry or a cool, darkish place. Potatoes that you simply retailer within the fridge might darken while you prepare dinner them and style candy.
Garlic and Onions
Maintain garlic and onions in a cool, darkish place within the pantry or within the fridge. Should you separate the garlic cloves, it is best to place these within the fridge. Garlic ought to keep contemporary for a few weeks. Onions will keep contemporary within the fridge for two months. Maintain garlic and onions separate from different produce in order that their sturdy odors will not have an effect on the style of your different fruits and veggies.
Squash
Summer season squash and zucchini will keep contemporary as much as 5 days within the fridge. Winter squashes, resembling butternut or acorn squash, can maintain for lots longer. They’re going to last as long as 3 months in a cool, darkish place like a pantry, cellar, or fridge.
Put together and Eat Your Produce Safely
If you end up able to eat fruits and veggies, wash your palms first. Rinse your produce below working water. You needn’t use any cleaning soap. If any a part of the meals is bruised or broken, lower it away first. Do not eat any produce that’s brown, mushy, moldy, or in any other case appears rotten.
