Have you ever stocked up your fridge with tons of healthy fruits and hearty veggies, only to watch them grow moldy and decompose just a couple days later? Not only is that a major waste of money, but it's contributing to the major food waste problem we have in America—half of all U.S. produce is thrown out, according to research.
Keep your produce fresh for as long as possible by following these simple tips and tricks.
1
Keep potatoes, onions, and tomatoes out of the fridge. Store in a cool, dry area instead.
2
Keep ethylene-producing produce (avocados, kiwis, tomatoes, honeydew melons) away from ethylene-sensitive foods (apples, broccoli, carrots, lettuce).
3
Put unripe bananas on the counter. Then move them to the fridge once they ripen.
4
Store salad greens and fresh herbs in tightly-sealed bags filled with a small amount of air.
5
Store citrus fruits in a mesh or perforated plastic bag in the fridge.
6
Wrap celery in aluminum foil before storing it in the veggie bin of the fridge.
7
Put carrots, lettuce, and broccoli in dry, separate bags in your fridge's crisper.
8
To store pineapples, cut the leafy top off and place in fridge upside down.
9
Moisture causes mold, so do not wash berries until you're ready to eat them.
10
Buy produce that is not bruised.
11
Buy packaged produce that is refrigerated or surrounded by ice.
12
Store fresh fruits and vegetables in the fridge at a temperature of 40 degrees f or below.
13
Refrigerate all produce that is purchased pre-cut or packaged.
14
Keep your fridge clean.
15
Don't store produce near a gas stove or oven.
16
Avoid storing produce near areas with smoke or heat.
17
Don't cut produce until you absolutely have to.
18
Don't cut produce until you absolutely have to.
19
Chop dried onions and chives and store them in an empty water bottle in the freezer.
20
Store potatoes with apples to keep them from sprouting.
21
Store chopped salad greens in the fridge in a bowl lined with paper towels and cover with plastic wrap.
22
Spritz lemon juice on cut apples, avocados, and guacamole to keep them from browning.
23
Store mushrooms in a brown paper bag in the fridge or another cool, dry area.
24
Keep tomatoes away from salad greens.
25
Don't overstock your fridge.
26
Keep bananas away from your other produce, since they produce high amounts of ethylene gas.
27
Keep tomatoes at room temperature and away from sunlight, and do not store them in plastic.
28
Store roots such as ginger and turmeric in the freezer.
29
Use glass containers instead of plastic for storage of fruits and vegetables.
30
Keep meats and fruits in separate areas of the fridge to avoid contamination.
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