Do you ever look in the fridge to grab some veggies and surprisingly they’re wrinkled, Wilted and just less than fresh and appetizing? This blog is all about how to mitigate those less than joyful moments and to let you know that not all those veggies are lost forever! So Let’s dive right in on how to make fruit and vegetables last.
Read these great ways to make your fresh fruits and vegetables last longer, minimize food waste and stretch your food budget! (Bonus tip at the end)
How to store vegetables for long lasting freshness
Cilantro
To keep cilantro crisp and green put it in a glass jar with water and make a sort of tent using plastic wrap or a zip bag. Place jar in the refrigerator.
The water keeps the fresh Herb from wilting while the tent keeps the cold draft from the fridge from being too nippy. ( the frigid air will dry/ freeze the edges of the leaves and then the cilantro wilts and goes bad.
I’ve personally had cilantro last a couple weeks using this method. I love that we can be more certain we have this refreshing Herb to spice up our many Tex-mex dishes, and lunch wraps.
How to store Lettuce for peak freshness
To store lettuce whole, place head of lettuce in a zip bag or container with a lid. Before sealing put a paper towel (or kitchen towel ) in with the lettuce and seal up, pressing out any air.
place in the refrigerator. Be sure to Change the towel once wet or check about every three (3) days or so. Lettuce should stay fresh up to two weeks or more using this method.
Peppers
keep peppers In a crisping box. (The crispers are Usually found in the bottom of your standard refrigerator) Once cut, place peppers with a paper towel, or Cotten towel inside a small container or zip bag and press out any air. Change paper towel when wet or every three days or so.
Cabbage
keep cabbage in the crisping box or once cut, keep it in a container with a lid or wrap it in Practice wrap and place partial cabbage back in crisper box
Celery
Celery like cilantro, celery does really well having a bit to drink. Place in a jar and at filtered water. Then create your sort of tent over the top of your celery
Broccoli
Broccoli does really well being wrapped in a towel or paper towel and placed in a container or bag. I like to keep my broccoli in the crisping box in the refrigerator
Should you store Tomatoes in the fridge?
Don’t store tomatoes in the fridge. The cold temperature causes them to be gritty. – unless you don’t eat them very quick than you might store them in the fridge and let them warm up a bit before using. This is my personal preference because of the texture. My favorite way to store Tomatoes is right on the counter, In a clean dry place. Eating tomatoes within a week will help ensure peak freshness.
How to keep Potatoes fresh
Store potatoes in a dry, arid place preferably away from light, like a potato box in the pantry. A basket or wooden crate will do great.
How to store Onions
Like potatoes, onions store best in a dry and arid place. You can store them in a crate, in the pantry or hang them so that they do not touch and there is plenty of air and space between each onion.
How to store fresh berries
to keep berries fresh, wash them in a vinegar water mixture. Fill large bowl or the sink with water ( shallow )and ad a splash or two of vinegar. About 1/4 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. Do not soak more than ten minutes.
Strain and pat berries DRY. Store in an airtight container with a kitchen towel ( or paper towel) . Place in the refrigerator. They should last a week or up to ten days.
This tip is great for any berry like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries etc.
Bonus Tip
How to freshen up wilted vegetables
Read my favorite way of perking up lettuce, celery, cilantro etc!
If your veggies or herbs are starting to wilt, remove any dead stems or leaves, then rinse in cold water and pat dry. Place stems in a glass jar. (heavy enough to stay steady in the fridge).
Fill jar with enough water to cover stems. Place plastic wrap or zip bag loosely over the leafy greens or herbs and put jar in the refrigerator.
Optionally you can leave the jar in indirect light from the kitchen window for a few hours to help regain the pretty green we all love in our fresh green vegetables.
Rinse jar and replace fresh water every couple days.
Quick rundown of how to store fresh vegetables longer
For most fruits or vegetables stored in the fridge, wash away any dirt or debris and pat the fruit or vegetables dry. Store fruit or vegetables in an airtight container with a towel to soak up any excess moisture.
Top tip: Storing fruit and vegetables in an airtight container with a towel to soak up any excess moisture has proved to be the best way keep them fresh longer!
This post is all about keeping fruits and veggies fresh longer
If you enjoyed this article check out our other tips and articles on the blog like 19 Tips on how to save money at any store or Alfalfa Sprouts | How to grow, keep fresh and eat
Tags: bestway to store fruit and vegetable, budget friendly homemaking tips, budget tips, Food storage, how to, how to store vegetable to last, how to wash fruit to stay fresh longer, sustainability, vegetable storage
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