How to Store Fruits and Vegetables So They Stay Fresher and Last Longer

We all know that fruits and vegetables are low-calorie foods with very beneficial properties for the body. We usually buy a few kilos of vegetables every day to use them in salads and side dishes, or to simply eat them raw. But when we have a large quantity at home, either because of an offer we saw or because they just kind of accumulated, we often feel sorry for not being able to consume everything in time and we are afraid that things might start to spoil.

Don’t be discouraged, 5-Minute Crafts wants to shares some tricks with you to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables so that you can make the most of their flavor and healthy properties.

Recommended storage temperatures

Before moving on to the tricks, it is best to refresh your memory with some examples of the general storage conditions of the most common fruits and vegetables:

Products that are best stored in humid cold conditions (0-3.8 °C):

*Apples

*Broccoli

*Carrots

*Lettuce

*Eggplant

Products that are best stored in dry cold conditions (4.5-10 °C):

*Garlic

*Onions

Products best stored in warm, dry environments (10-15.5 °C):

*Chili peppers

*Pumpkin

*Potatoes

Storage hacks

Potatoes

Place an apple or 2 together with the potatoes. Apples produce ethylene gas, which helps keep potatoes fresh and firm.

Ginger

Keep the ginger in a glass jar and fill it with cold boiled water. This will not allow it to dry out too quickly.

Green vegetables

Store green vegetables properly to make them last longer. Wrap vegetables like leeks, broccoli and cucumbers in aluminum foil; it can retain moisture and prolong the life of vegetables.

Plums

Plums contain many minerals that are good for the body. In case you bought too much when you came across a bargain, be sure to store them properly. Place the plums in egg cartons to prevent them from bumping into each other and rotting. You can assemble several rows and store them safely in the refrigerator.

Parsley

Everyone knows that parsley is one of the most popular cooking herbs thanks to its aroma and unmistakable flavor. To preserve it by hand, wrap the bottom of the parsley with a paper napkin, spray the napkin with water in a spray bottle, leave the parsley in a glass, and you will prolong its shelf life.

Tomato

If for some reason you have an excess of tomatoes in your kitchen, don’t rush to throw them away, their life may be longer than it seems. Just place them in an airtight plastic bag, with the help of a straw extract the air from the bag and store the tomatoes in the freezer. The tomatoes in the last photo above have been stored for a month — they look as good as new!

Pineapple

If you’ve been enjoying the delicious taste of pineapples and still have a couple left, don’t worry. Cut off the stem of the pineapple and place it on a plate upside down. This will prevent its vital components from circulating to the stem, and the pineapple will keep longer.

Carrot

If you have bought too many carrots, sand may help you. Place the carrots in a container in rows, over each row fill the container with wet sand leaving space between the vegetables until it is full. The sand is able to preserve the carrots for much longer.

Tips for preserving leftover vegetables and fruits

Pumpkin

The best and easiest way to store pumpkins is to wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and keep them in the fridge. It doesn’t matter if you leave the seeds or remove them. However, if you leave the pumpkin in the plastic wrap for too long, it will develop a layer of mold. If the pumpkin is still firm, just remove the mold and cook your vegetable as you wish.

Bell pepper

There are many varieties of peppers. And there is no doubt that this vegetable is very useful when it comes to preparing delicious dishes. If you have some leftover peppers, don’t throw them away! Cut off the top to remove the seeds. Tuck one bell pepper inside the other to save space. Place them in a plastic bag and freeze them. They will always be on hand for you to prepare your favorite recipes.

Lemon

In case no one else wants to drink tea with lemon, or if you used half in a recipe, you can keep the remains in a very simple way. Use a toothpick to attach the parts to each other. This will prevent the lemon from drying out.

Avocado

Did it take less avocado than you expected? No problem. Place the avocado scraps in a plastic container. Next to them place a piece of chopped onion. This will help the avocado retain its properties and flavor.

Lettuce

Everyone loves salad, in which lettuce can never be absent. But when your lettuce stocks turned out to be too large, you can prolong their life as follows: wrap the lettuce leaves completely with a thin cloth towel. Spray the cloth with water. This will keep the leaves protected from the sun and help them retain the proper moisture level for a while.