How to Extend the Life of Fruits and Vegetables

Keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer.

It is very frustrating to spend good money on fresh fruits and vegetables, or even to grow them in your garden, only to have them spoil before you get to use them. You go to the crisper for that bag of salad mix and find a brown gooey mess. You reach into a bag of potatoes and discover that one rotten potato has ruined most of the bag. There are things you can do to increase the life of fresh produce.

Instructions

1. 

   Remove fresh fruits and vegetables from sealed plastic bags. Although fresh fruits and vegetables often come from the grocery store in sealed bags, they should not be stored in those bags. Fruits and vegetables actually "breathe" in a process known as respiration. The cold temperature of your refrigerator slows that respiration, but sealed bags stop it all together, causing the fruits and vegetables to spoil quicker. Do not wash fruits and vegetables, or remove stems until ready to use, as damaging the skin can also cause a faster rate of decay. Some fruits and vegetables may be frozen (either raw or cooked). The University of Minnesota Extension Office provides detailed instructions for freezing fresh fruits and vegetables to extend shelf life and provide you with tasty out- of-season recipes.

2. 

   Separate fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator. Many fruits give off a gas known as ethylene, which increases the rate of ripening. It also increases the decay of many vegetables, which are sensitive to the gas. Although there are a few exceptions (store tomatoes with fruit and watermelon and ripe bananas with vegetables), the general rule is to store fruits in one crisper and vegetables in another. When you notice vegetables beginning to lose their freshness, consider cooking them into a vegetable broth and freezing it in small containers to be used for sauces and soups.

3. 

   Leave certain fruits and vegetables out of the refrigerator for a longer life span. In fact, most fruits will last longer if stored in a bowl on a counter, at least until they are fully ripe. If fruits begin to decay before you've used them, try mixing them all into a fruit smoothie or mix with yogurt for a fruit salad.

4. 

   Store "winter vegetables" such as potatoes, garlic and onions in a cool dry place, like a drawer or wooden box. They will be much more flavorful if stored in this manner. If these vegetables begin to go bad too soon, make them up into a hearty stew which can be frozen.

Tips & Warnings

• When grocery shopping, pick up your fresh produce last.

References

• The Safety of Fruits and Vegetables: University of Missouri Extension
• The Best Way to Store Fruits and Vegetables: Utah State Cooperative Extension
• Freezing Fruits and Vegetables: University of Minnesota Extension Office

Resources

• Storage Guidelines for Fruits and Vegetables: Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Food Safety: Texas Cooperative Extension