Game changing fruit and veggie home storage solutions
There’s nothing worse than cleaning up squishy, moldy fruit that rotted before you had the chance to eat it. Plus, given the rising costs of food these days it is not just a waste of produce – it is a major waste of money! Believe it or not, one of the main reasons people don’t buy these groceries (besides the higher cost of fresh fruit and veggies) is that people hate throwing them away before they use them. This aversion can really compromise your ability to eat healthy.
There are many pricey gadgets that claim to help extend the lifespan of your precious produce. You may even have a few already cluttering up your cupboards. The fact is that you don’t need those infomercial-esque tools to preserve things if you know a few storage hacks.
Keep things crunchy in the crisper
You know those two drawers at the bottom of your fridge? They actually have an official name which is “crispers” and clever engineers specially designed these for fresh products. Use them to help you keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for longer!
Fruits naturally release a gas called ethylene as they ripen, which can spoil your veggies faster. Each crisper should have a small switch to adjust the setting. Fruits need low humidity while vegetables need high humidity. A handy way to remember this wilt = high, rot = low. (See how “wilt” and “high” both have “i”-s, and “rot” and “low” both have “o”-s?) Adjust the settings according to your purchases and you are on your way to healthy food options for longer. Pretty neat, huh?
Refrigerator
Of course, every fruit is different and not every fruit or vege should even be stored in the fridge. So without further ado, here’s how to properly store each fruit.
At a glance, here’s what you want to keep in your fridge:
Apples – Crisper
Storing them on the counter will soften them–which isn’t how most of us like our apples!
Pears – Crisper*
If you prefer your pears soft, you can ripen them on the counter before transferring to the fridge.
Citrus – Crisper
Citrus will dry out when stored on the counter.
Berries – Lined Container
Soak your berries in a bath with one part vinegar and five parts water for five minutes.
Drain and rinse before transferring to an aerated container lined with a towel. A colander will do, or you can leave the lid slightly off of the container for airflow.
*This technique does not work for raspberries, which should not be washed until you are going to eat them.
Grapes – Colander
Store your grapes in a colander or a bowl without a lid.
Do not wash until you are going to eat them.
Pomegranate – Crisper
If you cut the pomegranate open, you can store the seeds in an airtight container.
Kiwi – Crisper
Ripen on the counter first if necessary.
*Pro tip: put your kiwis in a recycled egg carton to avoid bruising.
Counter: Stuff meant for counter surfing
Avocado
Yes–it’s a fruit!
Ripen on the counter until they give a little when squeezed, then transfer to the fridge and eat ASAP!
Tomatoes
The flavor and texture are both much better when counter ripened.
Bananas
Ripened your bananas a little too much? Freeze them for smoothies or make banana bread!
Mangoes
Transfer to the fridge when ripe if needed.
Pineapple
The bottom should smell like pineapple juice when ripe!
Stone fruit
This includes nectarines, peaches, and plums.
Papaya
Ripen on the counter then transfer if necessary.
Melons
Always on the counter! Just don’t wait too long.
One of the easiest ways to keep things fresh longer is to do smaller and more frequent shops and only buy what you need for a couple of days at a time. In another upcoming blog we will delve into sustainable food storage ideas such as beeswax wraps to help you eat healthy 365 days a year without stuff ending up in a landfill so watch this space!