How to Keep Veggies Fresh For Weeks
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
You just came home with all your healthy foods, ready to start your health journey. You may wonder how to keep vegetables fresh. Don’t you just put them in the fridge? While the refrigerator does help keep vegetables fresh, did you know that not all vegetables should go in the refrigerator?
Let’s face it, our grocery shopping habits have changed in the last year, and a routine grocery shopping trip may not be an option. So figuring out how to keep vegetables fresh longer can come in handy!
That’s why we sat down to figure out how to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for days, if not weeks! We quickly realized that it all came to knowing how to store vegetables to keep them fresh longer.
So we are going to share with you what we’ve learned to keep some of the most popular fruits and vegetables fresher for longer! Or, as this blog should probably be called, “How To Store Veggies To Keep Them Fresh.” Because, as you’ll see, storage is key.
Keeping Your Fruits & Vegetables Fresher for Longer
If you want to keep your potatoes fresher for longer, you should never refrigerate them. Instead, it is best for potatoes to be stored in a cool, dark place, ideally with higher humidity. Good air circulation is also crucial to keeping potatoes fresh. And because potatoes produce the gas ethylene, it is best to keep them separate from other ethylene producing fruits and vegetables, such as bananas and onions.
How to Keep Your Vegetables Fresh, Root vegetables (Such As Carrots, Beets, Turnips, And Ginger)
Unlike potatoes, root vegetables will have a longer life (several weeks, in fact) if appropriately stored in the refrigerator. If you keep root vegetables in a plastic bag in the fridge, they can last 3 to 4 weeks. You can store them loosely in the crisper drawer if you plan on eating them within two weeks. But no matter how you store them, ensure you remove any green, leafy tops beforehand.
How to Keep Your Fruits Fresh, Apples (and Pears)
The majority of fruit cannot be kept fresh for extended periods; however, crisp fruits such as apples and pears can be kept for several weeks if stored correctly.
Contrary to popular belief, apples should not be stored in a bowl out on display. Along with pears, they should be stored in the fridge because apples love the cold (which makes perfect sense if you think about how apple orchids tend to be in the cold, higher elevation areas).
However, when you store your apples and pears in the fridge, make sure to put them in a plastic bag. The reason for this is because apples, like potatoes, give off ethylene gas, which causes other fruits and vegetables in your fridge to spoil faster.
How To Keep Your Vegetables Fresh, Leafy Greens
It is common to wash fresh leafy greens once you get them home so that you can have them ready to eat. However, depending on when you plan on eating them, it might be in your best interest to avoid washing them until you’re ready to eat them.
Excess moisture left on leafy greens from washing can cause them to rot faster in the fridge. Instead, store the dry, unwashed leafy greens in an air-tight plastic bag; doing this can keep your greens fresh for up to a week or longer.
Proper Storage Is the Key to Keeping Fruits and Vegetables Fresh
Obviously, there are so many more vegetables and fruits to discuss. However, the ones we’ve mentioned here are the ones people buy most frequently at the grocery store.
So next time you buy potatoes, root vegetables, apples or pears, and leafy greens, try storing them in the ways we shared here. You just might be surprised to see how long they last when you do.
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