Storage Wars
How to Store Literally Every Dang Fruit & Vegetable
In this week's Storage Wars, we'll break down how to store your farmers market haul, from apples to zucchini.
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28 Comments
J
May 9, 2023
I love the article, and the comments are equally valuable! Here’s one tip for tomatoes, to which I am addicted during the two short months that they appear at my Farmers’ Market: I store the tomatoes on dinner plates on top of my kitchen pass while they either “ripen” or I await cooking them. DO NOT LET the TOMATOES TOUCH EACH OTHER! Yup, I need many plates given the ridiculous loads of tomatoes I buy. Why? I cannot tell you the science, but let’s say one tomato has a little black-something going on: something you either didn’t notice when you bought it or that emerged tomorrow: it will spread to its neighbor.
j7n
May 10, 2021
The article could be condensed listing together all items to be stored in a cool, dark place with air circulation. In an apartment all locations have a similar temperature. The best alternative is a warmer top shelf of a refrigerator, which can't be used for many other products. Onions and potatoes sprout quickly left out at room temperature, but last much longer in the fridge.
EveM
February 17, 2021
I put my lemons in gallon of water with 1/2 c white vinegar for 30 minutes then wash off, dry and in a sealed bag into the fridge. Last for a very long time..Limes too...this way I can buy a lot of Meyer lemons when in season and not have them go bad before i can use.
carol
February 19, 2021
I'm curious about why the submersion and addition of vinegar? Does that prolong the shelf life of the citrus?
Basia D.
February 15, 2021
I would love to see an addition of can/how to freeze produce if they’re at the end of their shelf life!
Barry R.
February 14, 2021
unable to read artical due to excessive add content
very interested in saving food artical
how can I get to read
very interested in saving food artical
how can I get to read
Carmen S.
February 14, 2021
Thank you for writing this although I have been very successful at storing all my fruit and vegetables and take much pride at my knowledge it was a good refresher course ..
rbrock1225
February 14, 2021
The single biggest improvement is one I learned about from our daughter (a NFP). There's a product called BluApple that you can add to your produce drawers and greatly slow the rate of spoilage. The same company has two other products that also help. I have no affiliation w/the company but have found a huge savings. Also, their claims are backed by reputable science.
rbrock1225
February 15, 2021
You're welcome.
Also, on their site, they have info on veggie/fruit storage: https://thebluapple.com/pages/produce-storage-tips
Also, on their site, they have info on veggie/fruit storage: https://thebluapple.com/pages/produce-storage-tips
Cy
February 14, 2021
I foil trick with celery is genius! I’ve been using it for the past six months or so. I tell everyone I know. Also works great for cucumbers. The best way with most herbs is the damp paper towel or cloth in a plastic bag ( I use reusable, compostable paper towels). I agree the really challenging part is finding room in my tiny fridge( one produce drawer!)
Teddee G.
February 14, 2021
Many of these storage suggestions are impractical if you live in an apartment with no cool, dark, dry place for storage.
carol
February 14, 2021
Is it true that potatoes and onions should not be stored together? Also I've heard that potatoes should not be put in the fridge- ever. I never put my tomatoes in the fridge unless they are so ripe I will be cooking them down.
Smaug
February 14, 2021
There is a theory that potatoes stored in the refrigerators will metabolize starches into sugar (a lot of root crops, and others such as citrus, develop sugars as protection against freezing) and that this will hasten their demise- this is likely true to some extent, and russets do OK out of the refrigerators, but I've found that new potatoes will be fine in the refrigerator if used in a reasonable time and will shrivel and try to sprout if out of it; I think they actually last longer in the refrigerator. I don't know anything specific about potatoes and onions, but many foods will absorb odor from onions; they're a pretty uneasy companion.
Alison H.
February 14, 2021
As a Florida resident there is no location in the house cool, dark and dry with air circulation. Mostly have to make do with in-fridge life or out-of-fridge short life cycles. I can only dream of these options. Since everything has to live in the fridge here, have invested in a set of plastic vented fruit storage berry boxes that help keep things much fresher and I don’t have to have open containers or weird towels in the fridge.
jeannebrody
February 17, 2021
Food52, how do you define "cool, dark and dry with air circulation"? Does a kitchen cabinet count? Or are you talking about a basement situation?
M
February 8, 2021
I store most produce in clear plastic bags that get rinsed and re-used several times. Cut veg is sometimes wrapped in saran, which is also rinsed and re-used.
Radishes and carrots (and sometimes celery) last a month or more in plastic bags, and most others at least a couple weeks. Herbs last 2 weeks in the jar of water + bag, but that's a massive space-hog and prone to tipping if the fridge is full. Mushrooms almost always come in plastic wrap unless bought in bulk, so they're transferred to a mushroom bag. If I don't get to them in time, I let them dry out fully for future use.
Radishes and carrots (and sometimes celery) last a month or more in plastic bags, and most others at least a couple weeks. Herbs last 2 weeks in the jar of water + bag, but that's a massive space-hog and prone to tipping if the fridge is full. Mushrooms almost always come in plastic wrap unless bought in bulk, so they're transferred to a mushroom bag. If I don't get to them in time, I let them dry out fully for future use.
Thea M.
February 14, 2021
Also, plastic bags (like ziploc) can be recycled at your store drop off recycling bin!
Smaug
February 14, 2021
Have you done comparison tests with other storage methods? Foil will certainly slow evaporation but is there any evidence that it does better than storing it in plastic bags, wrapping in wax paper or any other method?
Smaug
February 14, 2021
Oops, this belongs with the post below. On the subject of ziplocks, I understand some recyclers don't take them (at least intentionally)- don't know why exactly.
Cy
February 14, 2021
The evidence is that your celery and cucumbers last much longer than any of the other methods. Iv’e tried them all :)
Smaug
February 14, 2021
Hm- in side by side tests? I don't know what my record is for celery in plastic bags, probably a couple of months or so. At any rate I've never had to throw it away, so I haven't bothered trying other methods. I'm all for experimental science, but you gotta choose your spots.
Smaug
February 8, 2021
I have made a moderate effort to find out if there's anything to the aluminum foil thing for celery- couldn't find anything from any scientists, but a lot of cooking blogs recommend it, all of them citing a comment in Cook's Illustrated that, on the face of it, doesn't seem to make much sense. The theory is that celery emits ethylene gas -, which it does in quite small quantities- and that this will cause the celery to spoil. Ethylene gas accelerates flowering and ripening of fruit in many plants; I know of no examples of it acting on vegetative growth, like celery stalks. The idea is that aluminum foil will allow ethylene gas to escape while not allowing water to evaporate, which seems awfully dubious- at any rate, I keep celery in plastic bags and it keeps very well for several weeks. It can be revived in a glass of water if it does start to dry out. If you are fond of blue green mold, by all means store your citrus in a damp environment, otherwise best not to.
Thea M.
February 14, 2021
Not sure about it being backed by science, but I actually do the foil trick and it 100% works.
Thea M.
February 14, 2021
@smaug in my experience the foil works better than a plastic bag. I’m always shocked how long my celery - including the leaves - lasts in foil.
Ester S.
July 15, 2022
I wrap all veggies in aluminum foil. Wrap mushrooms in brown paper. Herbs such as parsley & cilantro in a glass with water, cover with plastic bag & put in fridge.
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