Tricks to make produce last longer

by Joanne Henning Tedesco — 

After your trip to the local farmers’ market, you may be wondering how to keep your fruits and vegetables fresh longer.

The following are some helpful hints to make your produce last longer..

• Cut the bottoms off of asparagus, put upright in a glass of water, cover with a plastic bag and store in your fridge.
• Store onions in old pantyhose to keep them fresh for up to eight months. Tie a knot between each so they do not touch.
• Store potatoes away from onions; however, storing them with apples will keep the potatoes from sprouting.
• Wash and dry salad greens, putting them in a bowl with paper towels to help absorb moisture. Cover with plastic wrap.
• Wash and dry green onions or chop and put them in an empty plastic water bottle. Freeze and use for cooking, as needed.
• Store mushrooms in a paper bag in a cool, dry place or in the fridge. Plastic will trap moisture, causing them to spoil.
• Keep chopped avocado or guacamole from turning brown by leaving the pit in and spray with lemon juice or olive oil, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Immerse berries in a mixture of one part vinegar to 10 parts water. This will keep them from getting soft and moldy.
• Store tomatoes at room temperature, away from sunlight and in a single layer with the stem sides up. Plastic causes faster spoilage.
• Put plastic wrap around the top of bananas to keep them fresh for days longer. Store away from other fruits, as they emit an excess of ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening.

Joanne Henning Tedesco is editor of AzNetNews.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 32, Number 3, June/July 2013.