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Storing Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

Posted on August 7, 2009
by Jenn A.

How to preserve your produce until you are ready!

Fresh Vegetables:

Artichokes Keep artichokes refrigerated (32-36°F), storing in a perforated plastic bag to retain moisture. Steam and serve with browned butter and vinaigrette for dipping.

Arugula Keep arugula refrigerated (32-36°F), stored in a perforated plastic bag, away from fruits to avoid deterioration. Arugula is good raw in a salad or cooked with other leafy greens.

Asparagus Cut an inch off the bottom of asparagus spears. Submerge ends in water and refrigerate (32-36°F). Steam or sauté until just tender – do not overcook!

Beets Keep beets refrigerated (32-36°F). The stems can be removed and they do not need to be in a plastic bag. Roasted beets are one way to prep beets for mixed salads. Preheat the oven to 475°F. Tightly wrap beets in double layers of foil and roast until tender, about 1 hour.

Bok Choy Keep bok choy refrigerated (32-36°F), storing in a perforated plastic bag. Wash and chop bok choy. Stir-fry with ginger and garlic, adding soy sauce to the pan just before serving.

Broccoli, Broccolini, Broccoli Rabe Keep broccoli refrigerated (32-36°F), storing in a perforated plastic bag to retain moisture. Steam or sauté.

Read the full article here.

Reviews

5 star rating May 13, 2008

Once you get it home...

How do you store your produce purchases to ensure freshness and maximum nutritional value until you are ready to use them? There are a ton of products out there -- from special bowls for certain types of lettuces to plastic and biodegradable food storage bags. There are drawers in your refrigerator that allegedly are better for storing produce (and maybe one for cheese). What's the right way to store your fruits and veggies? How do you keep stuff from spoiling?

First, buy what you need. It is difficult to pass local seasonal produce that makes a too brief appearance at the farmer's market (cherries, strawberries or apricots). In case you really run risk of your produce going off, try making some jelly or jam!

"Cool" is almost always the best way to store produce. Putting it in the refrigerator is the first step. Paying attention to the moisture requirements is the second step.

Many veggies - peppers, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, onions, avocados, can be kept at slightly warmer temperatures -- 40-55 degrees (compared to the 32-36 of the refrigerator). Citrus - lemons, limes, melons, oranges, grapefruits, mandarins - can be kept at these temps as well, but in a single layer with room for air to circulate -- a cookie sheet lined with a tea towel works great.

Many vegetables should be stored in a "perforated plastic bag" or in some kind of container that retains moisture but permits air circulation so that things don't get too soggy.

Asparagus likes to be trimmed and stood in water in the fridge. Basil, cilantro, parsley, chard and lettuces can all be revived in water in the fridge if they wilt. Trim them and stand herbs on end or put leafy veggies in a pan of water in the fridge per the illustration on the Farm Fresh To You website -- they provide great list of tips for storing your fresh produce:
http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/index2.php?cmd=storageusetips

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User Comments:

Kathryn J. says:
Thanks Jen! And remember that mangos should not be stored in the fridge...leave them at room temp until they're ripe. Refrigeration makes the juicy flesh "hairy". more »

Jenn A. says:
That's a great tip Kathryn - I always wondered why some mangoes turned out more fibrous than others! more »

Comments

Elli A.
8/7/2009 7:06 pm

Elli A. says:

Thanks Jenn this is very helpful. Any tip about tomatoes? I usually keep them out of the fridge on a paper towel, but they don't last as long as in the fridge.

Pamela G.
8/19/2009 12:18 pm

Pamela G. says:

Thanks for the mango tip, I wondered why mine were hairy and stringy, yet my sons were always perfect! lol

Elli, I keep my tom's stem side down on newspaper on the counter and they last much longer than they used to, or in the fridge!

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