How To Store Fruits and Veggies
Hey there, mamas! Welcome back to the blog. This week, we are going over everything you need to know about how to store your fruits and veggies.
Let me guess; you most likely do not go to the store every day to stock up on fruits and veggies for lunch and dinner. As a result, you might have some old broccoli or carrots hanging out in your crisper! There is nothing wrong with that, but if you can store your fruits and veggies correctly, you can keep them fresh for a longer time.
The best thing about keeping fruits and veggies fresher for a longer time is that you can consume most of them before they go bad.
At the beginning of the week or when you do head to the store, I highly recommend planning your meals ahead, so you can know which fruits and veggies you will be needing.
If you have some extra fruits and veggies, especially towards the end of the week, I love going through the rest of my fridge and throwing together a recipe with those ingredients.
So, now that you have some fresh fruits and veggies for the week, where do you store them?
What To Store in the Fridge
First, we are starting with what items belong in the refrigerator. Surprisingly, a lot of fruits and veggies are versatile. They can be stored in the fridge or on the counter. The kick to this is that anything stored in the refrigerator will not ripen any further, or just extremely slowly.
I recommend fruits like avocados, kiwis, melons, peaches, and pears, you should store them on the counter, but if you don’t use them when they are ripe, move them to the fridge to get a couple more days out of them..
This produce, however, will need to skip the counter entirely and go straight into the refrigerator:
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Peas
- Peppers
- Spinach
- Apples
- Berries
- Grapes
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Pineapple
- Watermelon
There are also some particular cases:
- Corn: fine on the counter for 24 hours, but any longer, throw them in the fridge.
- Figs: eat immediately, but they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What To Store on the Counter
Now you know what to store in the fridge, what about the counter? Good news, the list is only a few items long, so that you won’t need to take up that much counter space.
- Onions
- Potatoes (Regular & Sweet)
- Winter Squash (Butternut & Acorn)
- Tomatoes
- Bananas
- Persimmons
You shouldn’t store tomatoes in the fridge because the cold air kills their flavor producing enzymes, and it changes the texture. The great thing about storing fruits and veggies on the counter is that you are less likely to forget about them because you can see them as they age.
What Veggies To Keep in Water For Freshness
If you like to pre-cut your veggies for the week ahead, storing some in water is a great way to maintain freshness.
Store in fresh, lukewarm water. Change the water every couple of days if you are trying to prolong freshness.
What veggies can you store in water?
- Apples (not a veggie, but hey, they’re still cool!)
- Celery
- Carrots
- Potatoes
A great way to plan ahead is to cut up some celery and apples, and then you will always have a snack on hand when you need them!
How to Wrap Herbs and Greens in a Damp Cloth
First, you need to determine what kind of herb you have on your hands. There are two different kinds, soft/tender and hard.
For soft herbs, or herbs like Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Mint, or Parsley:
Similarly to a bouquet of flowers, you need to trim the herb stems first. Then, place the herbs into a small vase, glass, or mason jar of about an inch of water. Cover the herbs loosely with either the lid of the mason jar or a reusable bag. Store in the refrigerator.
For the hard herbs, or Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme:
Wrap the herbs in a damp cloth. Place them into a storage container, and store them in the refrigerator. You will need to re-moisten the cloth every few days, or as required. The cloth should be damp, but not soggy.
For both of these wrapping methods, wash the herbs when you are ready to use them.
Here is a great youtube video tutorial on storage for herbs, fruits and veggies. Check it out here.
Now it is time to cook!
I hope this blog has helped you out! You can use some of your freshly stored produce to make delicious plant-based recipes including:
Creamy Vegan Carrot and Apple Soup
Vegan Green Goddess Buddha Bowl
Vegan Cauliflower and Broccoli Stir Fry
If you are interested in some more plant-based meals, check out our WonderMamas Meal Plan Membership! You get a weekly family-style meal plan to cut to the chase with making amazing plant-based meals for your whole family.
