Tips for storing fresh produce

Tips for storing fresh produce		clairelaine
		Jul 08 2006 19:02
The post about bagged lettuce got me thinking. There are so many little things I do to keep my produce fresh. I'd like to share them. Celery - As soon as you get it home from the store, take it out of the plastic sleeve it came in (if it came in one). Using a long piece of aluminum foil, lay the celery on it lengthwise and fold the ends up to meet in the middle, then roll it tightly in the foil, pressing it to conform to the shape of the celery. Put this in the crisper drawer. As you need it, unwrap, remove what you need, and re-wrap. It will keep for WEEKS. Romaine lettuce - fill your impeccably clean sink with cold water. Cut the ends off the heads and pull off the outer leaves, leaving the heart intact. Immerse in the water and let them float there for about 5 minutes. Swish once or twice to dislodge any sand, then allow it to fall to the bottom. Lift the lettuce out and let it drain. Once most of the water has drained off, wrap the lettuce in paper towels and place in a loose plastic bag. Store in the crisper. It will keep for at least a week and will be ready to use. Leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard etc) - wash in the sink like romaine. Lift out and clean the sink. Refill and repeat until no more grit falls to the bottom. Cook immediately, or let dry and wrap in paper towels in a plastic bag. They will keep for about 3 to 4 days. Use quickly because they lose vitamins as they age. Tomatoes - don't refrigerate your tomatoes. They lose flavor and texture. Keep them stem side down on the counter (or on a plate) and use them quickly before they spoil. Onions - get a clean pair of old panty hose and cut off one leg. Drop an onion into the toe of the stocking and tie a knot above it. Drop in another onion and tie another knot. Continue until you have a long stocking filled with onions. Hang in a cool dark place where air can circulate. They will keep for a month or more. Potatoes - you can refrigerate potatoes, but they will eventually develop a sweet taste. They are best stored in a paper bag in a cool dark place. Don't put them next to the onions and don't store them in a plastic bag. They need to breathe and they need to be dark or they will sprout. Depending on the variety, they should keep for a month or more. Fruit - refrigerate most fruits and wash right before you use them. Carrots - put them in a loose plastic bags with some holes in it, in the crisper drawer. If they get wet they will rot and if they get dry they will wilt.

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#1	meljo	Jul 08 2006 19:46
great tips claire, thanks!
#2	darc	Jul 09 2006 00:34
Also, wash those strawberries right when you get home. Just one over ripe one in the middle of the pack & they'll all be mush shortly!
#3	clairelaine	Jul 09 2006 00:58
Ah yes! Strawberries - wash and hull the berries and let them dry off in a colander before storing them in a plastic container. If you store wet berries they will go bad quickly.
#4	nymo	Jul 09 2006 02:04
wow great tips. Definitely deserves a tag! Thanks Claire!
#5	clairelaine	Jul 22 2006 00:49
bump
#6	salome190	Nov 03 2006 20:43
Great tips. Thank You.
#7	finewine58	Nov 03 2006 20:54
Never keep apples and oranges together! The gasses released by the apples will make the oranges go bad. Actually, keep the apples out of the fridge all together and keep in an open bag on the counter away from all other fruits.
#8	zooyork81	Nov 03 2006 21:10
Thanks so much Claire! That's my biggest gripe about fresh produce...
#9	tracyvision	Nov 05 2006 17:52
We just got a set of "Fresher Longer" from Sharper Image (here's a link to a coupon page, click through to get the full description and redeem the coupon). These things really do work! The only thing I don't use them for is fresh herbs. Those I wash and store rolled up in paper towels in a ziploc, with as much air removed as possible. I wash my strawberries right before eating. No reason other than that's what Rachael Ray says to do! btw, if you use the Discover card you can get Sharper Image gift cards with your rebates (that's how I got our set). You'll get an $80 card for only $40 worth of discover card rebates. Half price! how can you beat that!
#10	clairelaine	Nov 05 2006 19:15
When I worked for a florist we used to put our lunches into the big cooler. He'd have a fit if he saw us with an apple because the natural ethelene gas given off by apples will turn flowers brown. It does come in handy if you want to ripen, say, an avocado. Just put it in a brown paper bag with an apple for a day or two.
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