How to Keep Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Fresher Longer

The pros and cons of what works best and what works worst for storing fresh fruit and vegetables.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Doctors recommend increasing the amount of servings of fruit and vegetables we eat each day. So, how do you keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer, especially in a home of picky eaters? There is nothing more aggregating than to end wasting money throwing away rotted fruit and veggies.

2. 
   www.bonappetit.com

   Canning is the first option. There are many places to get information and the steps involved in the canning process. Pros: Some fruits and vegetables are actually more palatable when canned than others and can be stored from 1 year up to indefinitely. Cons: Canning can be costly and takes a considerable amount of time and patience to get satisfactorily results.

3. 
   www.sealameal.com

   Sealing bags is another option. This involves purchasing the sealer machine and bags. Pros: Bags can be resealed after opening and keep food fresher longer. Cons: This can also be costly and involves time in learning the proper ways to seal the bags. If the bags are frequently opened the sealer must be in an accessible area.

4. 
   www.greenbags.com

   Green bags are advertised to keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer. The bags are coated with a special oil and advertised that they can keep your fruits and vegetables 5-10 days fresher than regular storage. The fruits and vegetables must be completely dry prior to storing in the bags. Pros: These can be purchased at most grocery stores or online, and are relatively inexpensive. Cons: The bags do not seal and therefore if not folded correctly can allow air into the bag, causing the food to rot faster.

5. Finally, there are storage bags or containers that can also be used. Pros: If specifically designed for fruits and vegetables they will keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer. Cons: Plastic storage containers tend to take up a lot of room in the refrigerator and can be quite expensive when specially designed for fruits and vegetable storage. Plastic storage bags can be more ideal. Pros: They do not take up as much room, especially in a small fridge, and are not very expensive depending on the brand you purchase. Cons: Improper sealing can allow air in the bag. Plastic freezer bags are even more ideal. Pros: When used to store fruits and vegetable in the fridge and not the freezer, they tend to be thicker and more ideal in keeping food fresher longer. Cons: These bags are a bit more expensive than regular storage bags and improper sealing can also allow air to get in the bag.