How to Make Fruits and Vegetables Stay Fresh

A constant problem with buying produce is having to throw it away after a few days due to it becoming brown, wilted, or rotten. Here are a few tips that will help keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for longer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Always keep your fruits and vegetables in the crisper part of the refrigerator. The food loses its moisture a lot slower in there than any other part of the refrigerator. This helps preserve it.

2. Some fruits and vegetables such as carrots and apples store better in paper bags. Not all fruits and vegetables are the same, however, so never try this with a fruit such as a kiwi fruit.

3. Never store tomatoes in the refrigerator. They will not only lose their flavor, but they will also turn mushy a lot sooner if placed in there. Keep them away from sunlight at room temperature.

4. Keep your produce in perforated plastic bags. This will also help preserve the freshness in the refrigerator.

5. If you wash your fruit or vegetables before storing, always make sure that they are entirely dry before putting them away. Moisture can add to early spoilage.

6. Perhaps the best way to avoid spoiled fruits and vegetables is to only buy the amount that you can eat. Most people tend to buy more than they are going to eat. Examine the amount you are buying and really think about whether or not you will eat them.

[auntielester]

on 10/30/2009 I was trying to find out how to best store CUT UP PAPAYA. I bought a 2/3 ripe papaya and cut it in half and removed the seeds but I don't need to use it yet.
How do I store it to maximize ripening and/or freshness? (eg. scoop it out of the skin? leave it in the skin? saran wrap it? in fridge or not?) Hope someone knows.