If you've ever spent big bucks on fresh fruits and veggies only to have them go bad a few days later, you're not alone. Keeping fruits and veggies fresh can be tricky, especially when the weather starts warming up. If you want to save money and keep your food fresh longer, check out a few of these tips for storing your favorite produce.
1. Bananas
Wrap 'em up. Cover the stems in plastic wrap to keep the natural gases emitted by bananas from browning the bananas too quickly. You can wrap the bunch together or break them apart and wrap them individually, according to
AOL.
2. Potatoes
Store your favorite starch with an apple. The natural ethylene gas in apples helps keep the potatoes from sprouting. AOL reports that one test showed potatoes lasted up to eight weeks (firm and sprout free!).
3. Berries
Wash your berries in 1 cup (240 ml) vinegar and 3 cups (700 ml) water before storing them. Make sure you dry them completely to keep mold and bacteria at bay, according to
Cosmopolitan.
4. Tomato
If you want to keep your tomatoes fresh and tasty, keep them out of the refrigerator, according to Cosmopolitan. Store tomatoes on the counter so they ripen properly. If they still have stems, AOL suggests you store them stem side down (or cover the stems with scotch tape).
5. Celery
Ditch the plastic your celery came in and wrap the bunch in tin foil. The foil makes it easier for natural gases to escape. Plastic bags keep the gases trapped in, which wilts your celery faster.
6. Herbs
Stop tossing your herbs in the refrigerator. Grab a glass, fill it with water and put your fresh herbs on a windowsill. The cold temperatures of the fridge wilt your herbs and suck away flavor. When herbs start to go bad, chop them up, put them in an ice cube tray and cover with olive oil. Freeze until set. They'll last for months this way!
7. Mushrooms
Store your mushrooms in a brown paper bag. The bag helps keep your mushrooms dry and clean so they don't get slimy. If they start to dry out, rinse them under water.
8. Carrots and Radishes
Chop them and store them in a bowl of water in the refrigerator to keep them fresh and crispy, according to
Mother Earth Living. Same goes for celery, too!
9. Cheese
Rub the cut edges of your cheese with butter. This keeps hard cheese from drying out.
10. Onions
Store onions in a cool, dry place. Lay them flat so they get good air circulation, so that the outer skins dry and don't get moldy.
11. Apples
Store apples in the refrigerator to make them last longer. They last up to three weeks in the fridge. Note: Keep these sweet treats away from other fruits and veggies because they release a ton of natural gas, which causes your other produce (except for potatoes) to ripen faster.
12. Oranges
Store oranges at room temperature. Try a basket to allow air flow to circulate to keep your fruit juicy.
13. Lemons
Instead of cutting your lemons in half for a bit of juice, poke them with a skewer and use the juice you need. Then just store the lemon in the refrigerator. Cutting your lemon in half will make it dry out faster.
14. Asparagus
Store this veggie with the stems in a little bit of water and lightly cover them with plastic.
15. Broccoli
Store your broccoli in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic. Broccoli should last up to five days.
16. Greens
Store your lettuce and spinach in the veggie drawer, wrapped in plastic. Add a paper towel to absorb moisture. If your lettuce starts to wilt a bit early, soak it in ice water to revive the crispness.
17. Avocado
Keep your avocados on the counter until ripe. This usually takes two or three days, depending on their state when you bought them. When they soften a bit, store them in the fridge to keep them from going bad. Preserve the tasty fruit by squeezing a bit of lemon on the exposed pulp if you need to store it.
18. Scallions
You can significantly increase the shelf life of these onions by storing them in a jar of water on the counter. Snip away as you need (and they'll keep growing in between!).
19. Kale, Collards, Chard
Trim the ends and store in a glass of water, lightly covered with plastic. Keep in the fridge.
20. Peaches
Keep on the counter until fully ripe. Then store in the refrigerator.
What are some of your tricks for making your food last longer? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
