How to Store Fruit and Veggies for Ultimate Freshness's featured image

How to Store Fruit and Veggies for Ultimate Freshness

 

Mark the calendar! Your local weekly farmers market is now offering a bounty of beautiful fresh local produce! On a hot summer day, fresh fruit can be refreshing and vegetables that pack a good crunch are an essential summer snack. Even cooking with fresh fruit and vegetables instantly elevates the menu. So, to retain the ultimate freshness of your produce, we’ve provided a few storage tips to extend that just-picked flavour.

Berries

Often the first fruit to show signs of spoiling, a quick rinse with water and a splash of vinegar will help prevent mold spores from growing and increase shelf life. Be sure to pat dry and store in an airtight container. Most berries like to stay dry.

Bananas

Maybe the easiest fruit to keep fresh! Happy at room temperature simply hang or pop in a bowl, this tropical fruit will quickly turn brown at cooler temperatures. Tomatoes are another vegetable that is best and most flavorful when kept at room temperature.

Apples & Citrus

Pre-packed and ready to go, apples and citrus fruit are also low maintenance and have a relatively long shelf life compared to berries. Simply store them in your refrigerator drawer where it’s dry and cool.

Salad Mix

To maintain their freshness, leafy greens prefer a little bit of moisture and cool temperature. Storing them in a large reusable plastic or glass container, or reusable bag with a damp paper towel works well. Yellow leaves are a sign that the greens are starting to expire.

Fresh Herbs

Not all herbs crave the same storage solution. Those on the dryer side, like rosemary and thyme, should be kept dry and stored in a recyclable plastic container. Softer, moister herbs like cilantro and basil like to have a little bit of moisture like leafy greens.

Asparagus

With a short shelf life, asparagus tastes best when cooked the day you buy it. However, you can refrigerate them for up to 4 days, simply trim the bottoms and stand the spears up in a glass or jar with about an inch of water.

 

Photo by Shelley Pauls on Unsplash