[Guest Post] How Do I Store This? A Guide for Fruits and Veggies by Michelle Rebecca

Every time we go food shopping and pick up various types of produce we watch in amazement at the seemingly random process by which things either ripen or go bad. To some degree you know that there are different ways to store things. But oftentimes, it’s all just a big mystery.

This short guide will help shed light on the dos and don’ts of produce storage.

The Golden Rule of Vegetable Storage

Note: Thou shalt not store your vegetables along with your fruit. There is a reason for this. Many fruits (I’m looking at you, banana) are just the slightest bit radioactive.

Now, now, don’t freak out. Bananas won’t make you glow in the dark, but they can act as ripening agents to other fruits. They continually give off a particular type of radiation that simulates the sun as far as other produce is concerned.

Bananas do this because they contain potassium 40. Other fruits might give off ethylene, which is another powerful ripening agent. This can be damaging to vegetables too. If you want to avoid having a pile of rotten vegetables in your crisper, keep the fruit in a separate place.

Not All Produce Needs Refrigeration

 

In fact, the fridge will actually damage certain types of produce. Potatoes and other tubers, for instance must never be refrigerated. The cold temperature breaks down their starch and makes them ferment—a nice way to say they will rot.

Also, there are few things as undesirable as rotten potatoes in your fridge. The thing to do is to throw them all into nice wire baskets and keep in them in the shade.

Contrary to popular wisdom, tomatoes should stay out of the fridge. Keep them dry and keep them cool. Another oddball veggie is the eggplant, which seems like it should be refrigerated but actually prefers room temperature.

There are also lots of fruits that have to stay out of the fridge. Apples do well outside the refrigerator, as do citrus fruits like lemons. Melons are another fruit that should never be put in the fridge. The cold ruins their texture, making them rubbery and bland.

Immediately Refrigerate the Following

On the flip side there are the fruits and veggies that must absolutely be refrigerated. Chief among these are berries; they’re so delicate they start going bad on the way home from the market.

This goes for soft fruit, such as peaches, too. Corn should be refrigerated immediately —especially if you don’t consume it the same day you bought it. Even though it appears durable, don’t hang on to corn, as it goes bad extremely fast.

In the oddball category you will find garlic. Unlike onions, garlic will stay fresh longer if you keep it cool.

A Final Tip

Don’t stack fruits and veggies. This promotes rotting. Give them as much breathing room as you can. Hopefully these tips will make save you money in the long run, which is always a good thing.

Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.