Best way to keep produce fresh in the fridge?!
Best way to keep produce fresh in the fridge?
What is the best way to store veggies in the fridge? Is it best to seal lettuce or cucumbers in a zip lock bag, or allow the veggies to just sit in the drawer in the fridge?
Answers:
Depends on the produce.
Cucumbers, no bag. Put them naked on the shelf.
Tomatos: don't even put them in the fridge. They stay good longer and taste better if you keep them on the counter.
Lettuce: washed and dried, store in a bowl with a lid or a clean plastic bag. Make sure it's a dry bag.
Green beans: the bag they came in is good but use them within a day or two or they won't be great.
Asparagus: same as green beans.
Mushrooms: do not wash until you want to use them. Store in a dry paper bag.
That's all I can think of for now. Good luck.
Source(s):
My own experiments as well as advice from a local farmer.
I've always heard to leave them out of bags and just sit in the drawers, at least thats what i do
Just leave them. Dont put them in anything. Dont wash them until you are ready to eat them. Washing them makes them go bad earlier.
once you open lettuce you should put it in a zip lock bag. same with most veggies. most fruits should be out of the bag once opened and just sit in the frig.
also with lettuce, do not cut it but rip it apart when using it. cutting it will make it turn brown faster.
tupperware...its expensive but has a life time garantee and they have ways to store absolutly everything in your fridge freezer and pantry
I try not to put anything in those little drawers...it's too easy to forget about them. I always keep ly cabbage, lettuce, carrots, ginger, etc. in the plastic bag, on the bottom shelf and they seem to stay good forever. Also, I never keep my onions and potatoes in the fridge, I keep them out, seperate, in the dark.
It is ideal not to wash them until you eat them. Strangely enough wrapping them in aluminum foil is fabulous! I know I know it just sounds wrong but for some reason leafy fridge tender stuff such as a head of iceberg or celery really, really do well when wrapped with plain old aluminum foil. Don't seal it just wrap them up fitting it to them. I guess it allows just the right amount of air into them. I only tried this because my cooking magazine recommended it and since they actually test stuff side by side in a scientific manner I decided to try it. I was astonished by how much better stuff kept. The magazine is Cook's Illustrated it is made by the same people who do America's Test Kitchen on PBS.
I use a pair of perforated green rubber or latex mats that you put in the bottom of your veggie bins. It keeps apples, lettuce, cabbage, etc crisp. I believe they're made by Rubbermaid & I think I got them at Walmart.