Genius Ways To Keep Produce Fresh All Summer

Apr 16, 2018

When summer arrives, it’s basically impossible to avoid stocking up on all the fresh, ripe, and colorful fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. The only downside to buying so much produce is its shelf life. You may make a point to eat fruit as a snack every day and buy fresh veggies to cook for dinner, but after just a few days they may already be rotting and wilting away in your fridge or on your countertop.

There are clever ways to store your produce to prevent this from happening, which may even keep your vegetables fresh all summer. That’s right. All summer!

Keep reading to find out how :)
 

There are two types of herbs, and it’s important to know which ones you’re working with before you store them. Remember to always wash your herbs and pat them dry with a paper towel before storing them.

Hardy herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and chives can be rolled up in a paper towel and stored in a Ziploc bag inside the fridge.

Tender herbs like parsley, cilantro, dill, and mint require a bit more attention. Trim the tips of their stems and remove any wilting leaves. Fill a mason jar with water and add the herbs like a bouquet. To secure the freshness, place a Ziploc bag over the herbs and secure it to the jar with a rubber band.
 

Parsley, basil, and chives are a little difficult and need different storage methods. Parsley should be kept on a damp paper towel in an open container in the fridge, but basil can be stored in a covered mason jar with water outside of the fridge and away from direct sunlight. Chives and other small herbs like sage and thyme can be chopped up and frozen.

How to store fruit

Fruits like apples, apricots, cantaloupe and honeydew release a chemical called ethylene, which causes them to ripen quickly. Keep these types of fruits away from any other healthy foods.

Avocados, bananas, peaches, nectarines, tomatoes, pears and plums should never be stored in the fridge, as well as citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges.

Grapes and other berries should be washed and patted dry before being stored in the fridge.

Bananas are a tricky subject because it’s best to separate them all and wrap the tips in tin foil to prevent them spoiling too fast.
 

How to store vegetables 

Just like herbs, vegetables should be washed and patted dry before storing them in a bag to protect them from moisture.

Asparagus can also be stored like a bouquet by trimming the tips and keep them in a mason jar filled with water. They can be kept in or outside of the fridge.

Celery should be kept as a stalk and stored on the counter in a shallow bowl filled with water. If you would prefer to keep your celery in the fridge, wrap it in aluminum foil to keep it from getting soggy.

Tomatoes should never be stored in the fridge. They’ll stay fresh longer on the counter, but if you need to quickly ripen your tomatoes, put them in a brown paper bag with an apple.
 

Potatoes, onions, garlic, and peppers

These hardy foods will stay fresh in a cold dark pantry, but peppers should be kept in the fridge. They will stay in good shape if kept in a mesh produce bag.

Do you have any tricks for keeping your fruits and veggies fresh, or do you eat them all before they go bad? Let us know your favorite tips by showing this article to your friends and family!