How to Keep Fresh Vegetables Fresh

While fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to a healthy, balanced diet, fresh produce loses its appeal after spending excess time in the fridge. Luckily, you can keep your vegetables fresher longer, reducing your trips to the supermarket and improving your daily menu.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Paper bags
• Plastic bags
• Paper towels
• Zip-seal plastic bags

1. Wash root vegetables, like carrots and radishes, immediately after bringing them home, and trim off inedible greens. Place the vegetables in an open container at the front of your fridge where the air is warmer. This helps them hold their moisture and keep their crunch.

2. Wash and dry green beans and cucumbers and place them in an open paper bag in the fridge. The paper will absorb moisture and help your delicious green vegetables stay fresh.

3. Leave corn on the cob unshucked. Place it inside a plastic bag, tie the top tightly, and then place it in the refrigerator. Reducing air circulation to the corn reduces the rate at which it ripens in the fridge, maintaining its fresh flavor as long as possible.

4. Store whole zucchini, squash, tomatoes and onions outside the refrigerator for the longest shelf life. Once you have cut onions or tomatoes, place a paper towel on the cut side and place both vegetable and towel in a plastic zip-seal bag in the refrigerator.

5. Store lettuce, peppers and celery in the crisper section of your refrigerator. First, however, place paper towels on the bottom of the drawer, and rest the vegetables on top. If you find celery still becomes limp before you have a chance to enjoy it, place wilting stalks in a cup of cold water inside the fridge; in a few hours they should be firm and crisp.