Proper Way To Store Your Fruits & Vegetables

Have you ever opened your refrigerator and looked at all the fruits and vegetables that have gone bad? As you pull out the soggy spinach or mushy tomatoes, all you can think about is the money you just wasted. You find yourself taking more trips to the grocery store more than you should, or you find yourself trying to use and cook all of your veggies because they all look like they're on their last leg. If weight loss has been your new year's resolution storing food is crucial for freshness and taste. The frustration can be so overwhelming that you question if this weight loss is even worth the trouble. Saving money on processed food can last three lifetimes. After spending hours in Whole Foods Market, you rip off your mask and start to put your groceries away, storing your fruits and veggies in the drawer, and walk away. Like new cars, fruits and veggies tend to drop in value after you've purchased and stored them. Here are ways to store your fruits and vegetables correctly.

Leafy Greens

Since grocery stores provide those little cute plastic bags, most of us place the whole bag in the refrigerator. The small plastic bag keeps your groceries organized and less messy since most of them are sprayed with water every fifteen minutes. Those plastic bags aren't the ones to use when storing kale and spinach. It would help if you had paper towels and Ziploc bags. Give your greens an extra rinse, wrap them in a paper towel, and seal them in a Ziploc bag. Make sure all of the air is out before closing. If you are eco-friendly, you can always use reusable silicone bags to save the planet and money.

Asparagus

First things first, throw out the plastic bag. You can use the plastic bag method or get a simple mason jar, fill it with water, submerge the asparagus stems in the water, and use it when needed.

Mushrooms

Since they already come in a cute container, most of us leave them in the box and use them as needed. If you notice after a couple of days, you start to feel the slime that they produce, that is a clear indicator that they're on the verge of extinction. The proper way to store mushrooms is to remove them from the container, wrap them up in paper towels and place them in a brown paper bag with the bag open.

Onions

Whole onions need to store in cool, dark, and dry temperature places such as cabinets or pantry. They can only be stored in the refrigerator once you've cut them.

Green Onion

Cut off the root and remove the rubber band; you then can slice the green onions in half, pat dry, wrapping them in a paper towel, and placing them in a sealed Ziploc/silicone bag.

Mint Leaves

You can store mint-like asparagus or place them in between damp paper towels and store them in a sealed container or bag.

Vegetables That Should NOT Be Stored in The Refrigerator

• Basil
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Garlic
• Green Beans
• Oranges
• Limes
• Lemons
• Sweet Potatoes
• Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Whole Watermelon
• Whole bell peppers

Before you think about putting your fresh veggies in the freezer, you must cook or blanch them before placing them in the freezer. Canned vegetables can last for 1-2 years. They can say best eaten by for freshness purposes.

I hope these tips and tricks help you with your next grocery run and save you time and money.

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