How To Do Just About Everything
By dweaver
How to Pick Fresh Produce
Rate: (30 Ratings)
Picking produce has always been wrought with myth, wives tales, and misconceptions. Here are the things I have learned to do when picking produce, no matter where I buy it
When picking tomatoes, never ever squeeze them. The first thing to do is look at it. Is it unevenly colored? Are there bruises or blemishes in the skin? Is the stem solid green or is it brown at the tips? If you answered no to all of these questions then you have a good tomato. Now, to check if it is ripe, simply smell it. Hold it like a baseball and place the tip of your nose to your finger, leaving just a little space between your nostrils and the tomato. Breathe gently and normally. Do not sniff at it. If you smell the tomato than it is ripe and ready to eat.
Avocados are the direct opposite of a tomato. If you can smell it than it is over ripe. You have to gently squeeze an avocado to check its ripeness. Use the tip of your thumb to press gently but firmly on the skin. If the dent you create slowly rises, than it is ripe. Do this a few times around the body of the avocado to check for bad spots. If you encounter areas that feel like a hard bubble that pops right back out, it has been bruised and will have brown flesh inside.
Fresh lettuce is easy to check. If it is unwrapped, look at the edge of the leaves. There should be no brown areas at the edge. Closer to the center the leaves should be a dark green and should have a springy feel to them. The leaves at the center should be closely bunched together.
Onions should always smell like onions. Again, look for visible defects like scratches and especially cracks in the skin. This is a sign that the onion has been out of the ground for a while, losing some of its internal moisture. The skin should always be intact and smooth with a dry paper outer cover.
Zucchini and squash are very easy. Again, you should be able to smell the vegetable. The key to squash is that it should feel heavier than it looks. If it seems light than there is a good likelihood it is older and has lost moisture.
Corn on the cob is a little more difficult when you are picking it still in the husk. Squeeze the corn in the palm of your hand. If you can feel little bumps where the corn kernels are, than again it is too old. The outside should feel smooth and well padded on the inside. Just like zucchini it should be heavier than it looks.
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Comments
LAURA7088 said
on 7/18/2008 Good tips - thanks!
BFunkey said
on 6/12/2008 Most of these heavily rely on a keen sense of smell. What about people with anosmia (loss of smell)?
BFunkey said
on 6/12/2008 I note that most of these tips rely heavily on a sense of smell. What is your advise for people with anosmia (lack sense of smell)?
MidniteWriter said
on 6/8/2008 These are great tips, i never knew about this. Congrats on being on the home page!
wordwhirler said
on 6/6/2008 Avacados at my market seem available in only two varieties--rock hard or already guacamole. Perhaps i is time to seek a new market . . . Thanks for the tips!