Tips for Keeping Produce Fresher Longer

It happens to the best of us. That lettuce you got on sale sat in your refrigerator for a week before you remembered to use it. By the time you remembered it, it was no longer fit to eat. Fresh produce is great to have on hand, but it’s a waste of money if it goes bad before you use it. There are a few things you can do to help keep your produce fresher longer.

Clean Your Refrigerator
Before you shop, make sure you get rid of anything in your refrigerator you haven’t touched in weeks. Food residue or mold spores can increase the spoilage of all your food that is in the fridge. Plus, having a clean refrigerator will help you see what you have. Often, food gets buried underneath containers and bags, and you forget you had it. This step alone will help you use up produce faster before it goes bad. 

Wash Produce Properly
Prewashing produce saves time during the week when you’re the busiest. However, if you are going to prewash you need to make sure you dry the produce. Leaving water sitting on the surface will cause the produce to spoil faster. Fresh greens are particularly sensitive to moisture spoilage, so they must be dried in a salad spinner or left to drain on towels before storage. Tender fruits like berries, should never be prewashed before you refrigerate. 

Let it Breathe
Don’t overstock your refrigerator.  It can cause poor air circulation, which will affect the overall temperature in the refrigerator. Produce will last much longer it has proper circulation. Also, ditch the plastic bags. All they do is trap moisture next to the fruits and vegetables. Instead store them bags with ventilation holes or just straight in the crisper without the plastic bags.

Keep High Ethylene Produce Separate
Fruit and vegetables produce ethylene gas when they ripen. Some are heavier producers than others. Produce such as ripe bananas, peaches, apples and potatoes are high ethylene producers and should be stored separately from other produce. As fruit and vegetables continue to ripen (or spoil) they will produce more of the gas. Remove overripe produce from your refrigerator or pantry as soon as you see it to help keep the rest fresh. 

Don’t Overbuy
Yes, we all should eat more fruits and vegetables, but it’s pointless if you buy too much and it spoils before you get to it. Buying just enough will save you money and prevent food waste.