Now that the weather is getting hotter, the crops are getting fuller. Meaning farmers markets across the country have an over abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy. What you may not know is that some fruits and vegetables don’t even require refrigeration. Sometimes refrigerating fruit will actually make it ripen faster. Depending on how you like your fruit, that may not be a good thing. But keep in mind: ripe fruit is optimal for best digestion. You spent all this money on fresh fruits and veggies, now make the most of it and follow these tips to ensure they last as long as possible
Tips:
-Do not store fruits and vegetables together. Higher levels of ethylene in the fruit can cause the fruit to ripen prematurely, and cause the vegetables it’s stored with to go rotten.
-Before putting vegetables away, remove any ties and trim the ends. If you choose to leave the veggies in a bag, puncture holes in it to allow good airflow. The closer you store the vegetables together, the quicker they will ripen.
Refrigerate:
-Asparagus
-Beets
-Brocoli
-Cantaloupe (once it has been sliced)
-Carrots
-Cauliflower
-Celery
-Corn
-Cucumbers
-Eggplant
-Figs
-Grapefruit
-Honeydew (once it has been sliced)
-Kale
-Mushrooms
-Oranges
-Spinach
-Watermelon (once it has been sliced)
Do NOT refrigerate:
-Apples (you can choose to refrigerate them, but they give off a gas that causes surrounding fruit to ripen faster so it is best to leave out)
-Apricots
-Avocadoes
-Bananas (unripe)
-Nectarines
-Peaches
-Pears
-Persimmons
-Plums
-Potatoes
-Tomatoes (only refrigerate when cut into slices)
Keep in mind, some fruits and vegetables last longer than others and can therefore be stored in the refrigerator or on the counter for longer. Eat the items likely to go bad quicker first, and save the rest for later.
