BUUUUT I hate waste, especially when it comes to food! It is hard, though, when you get excited and buy a lot of vegetables and fruit and then you realize there is not enough time to eat everything before it goes bad. I have a habit of buying too much, and sadly seeing things go bad and throwing them away.
Below are a list of fruits and vegetables that stay fresh for a long time (if stored correctly)!
Apples
Every day I have an apple, but sometimes I over buy and my apples do not seem as fresh as I would want them to be. In order to avoid your apples going bad store them at a temperate of 30°F - 32°F. If they are stored in a place that is just 10 degrees warmer, they’ll ripen twice as fast! Make apples last by putting them in a plastic bag in your fruit crisper drawer. Eat the largest apples first; they’re usually the first to go bad.
Beets
I love fresh beets! I make them often, and they are always delicious. Beets can last between 2 and 4 months in the refrigerator. First, cut off the greens if they’re still attached, and then store them in a plastic bag in your vegetable crisper. Stick a few holes in the plastic bag. I am making a fresh beet salad now, stay tuned for this blog post!
Carrots
Did you ever notice how carrots always seem wet? Carrots give off a lot of moisture and this is part of what cases them to rot more quickly. A tip would be to wrap carrots in a paper towel, so that it absorbs the moisture. And if you buy them in a plastic bag, stick some paper towels in the plastic bag and change the towels whenever they get too damp. This can keep them fresh for a few weeks to a few months.
Potatoes
Potatoes do not like light (makes them turn green) and the ideal storage temperate is 40ºF. If you have a basements put your potatoes there. This is a really good storage spot for potatoes. In good conditions they can last from 2-4 months. Sweet potatoes are a little different and do not last as long in storage so eat them within a week of purchase!
Garlic
I used to keep my garlic cloves outside on a little plate. But I soon noticed that they did not stay too well. Teh garlic would start to sprout if I did not use it within a week.
Garlic keeps longest when stored at 60º- 65ºF and moderate humidity. Garlic should be ok if you place it in a dark kitchen cabinet. You can also store whole bulbs in the fridge in a paper bag. The bulbs will last for months if you store it this way... score! But make sure your garlic is not cut or else everything will smell of garlic.
Take note that once garlic has been in the cold, keep it there! it will start sprouting within days after being brought to room temperature. So if you decide to store it in the fridge keep it there until right before you want to use it!
Winter Squash
Pumpkins, butternut squash, and other varieties of squash will last between 2 and 6 months if kept in a dark cabinet. You want air to be able to circulate around the squash so make sure to keep them in a single layer with not much around them.
Frozen Veggies
If your veggies always seem to go bad, you can try frozen! Frozen vegetables are frozen within hours of being picked, and can be even healthier than the fresh vegetables. You don't have to worry about them going bad, and storage is easy.. in your FREEZER!
Do you have any tips on how to keep vegetables or fruit fresh longer?
