storage tips for fruits & vegetables
produce storage can be use this guide to help preserve the texture, color, flavor, and sweetness of your From the Farmer basket. while there can be dozens of unique recommendations for each fruit, fungi, spud, and sprout, we’ve tried to hone in on best practices, without doting too much on any one veggie or fruit.
a tricky thing. Storage 101: quick tips refrigerated, almost all produce will keep longer. eating in order of perishability is a clever trick: berries go the fastest, then soft-skinned fruits like tomatoes and cucumbers, lastly roots and spuds will last the longest. properly stored, heartier produce will last longer. think less juicy (water content) more firm (fiber). cut off bruises and wrap up any exposed edges. bruises let air in and cause rotting! get rid of rotting or moldy items, stat! prevent mold contaminating the rest of the bunch. fresh produce is great because it’s fresh! let it sit around, and it won’t be as wonderful. eat up!
happy when humid BEFORE STORING wrap these veggies up with a damp paper towel, zip them into a bag, then store in your refrigerator’s high humidity drawer.
Asparagus Carrots Corn Artichokes Cabbage Cauliflower Leeks Kale Collards Mustard Greens Spinach Arugula Mesclun Romaine Beets Parsnips Turnips root veggies
breathing room skip the zip, use a perforated bag or leave the bag open. include a damp paper towel for best results. broccoli brussels sprouts peas beans pods ( f a v a , c r a n b e r r y, g r e e n , e t c . )
dryer is better keep these in your low-humidity produce drawer. Radishes Okra Apples Pears Grapes Hard-Stem Herbs (rosemary, oregano, thyme) Green Onions*
*Bag these up and Separate from other foods, UNLESS YOU WANT EVERYTHING TO TASTE LIKE ONIONS.
Mushrooms should be stored unwashed in a paper bag with a dry paper towel to absorb extra moisture. They like it cool and airy, so skip the drawer and store on the first or second shelf in the fridge.
COUNTER no refrigeration keep up on your counter
tomatoes
winter squash
CULTURE necessar y and out of direct sunlight
peaches
plums
melon
SENSITIVE Ideally ~ 50째F.
Bell Peppers
Celery
Eggplant
TO COLD Never on the bottom shelf.
Cucumbers
Summer Squash
moody roots c o o l , d a r k , a n d d r y. lots of air circulation. definitely no refrigeration. potatoes sweet potatoes garlic onions
if your onions show signs of sprouting, cut away the sprouts and u s e i m m e d i a t e l y.
Thirsty stems Treat these veggies like fresh flowers. Trim the stems. Place upright in a jar with water. Store in the refrigerator with leaves covered.
Artichoke Soft-stemmed Herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro) Delicate soft head lettuces (ex: butterhead) Asparagus (not required, but will fare well)
berry special treatment Pay extra attention to scouting out discarding any duds or mold. Wash all the keepers in a diluted vinegar bath (1:3 water to vinegar). Air dry completely. Store in a container lined with paper towels. Leave the lid open a little to allow moisture to escape.
fresh bread
our bread is preservative-free. in time it will get dry, perhaps even moldy, if a) not properly stored. b) eaten. this is good! a sign of fresh, natural ingredients!
decide how much of the loaf you will consume in 7 days. slice and freeze the rest. heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic bags will both do for freezing. wrap the sliced edge of the remaining loaf in foil. this will help minimize drying. then store the whole loaf in a paper bag. keep at room temperature ~68ยบF, away from direct sunlight, in a cool and dry spot. do not refrigerate or store on top of your refrigerator.
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