Keep Your Produce Fresh
- June 30, 2020
- NYTimes.com
There’s a simple joy in the snap of leafy greens or the crunch of raw carrots fresh from the store. But keeping those perishables perky once you get them home can be a real challenge. A few simple strategies can help you enjoy your fresh fruits and vegetables longer—and minimize food waste.
Start Fresh
Selecting the freshest fruits and veggies is the first step to getting the longest storage life in your kitchen. According to The New Food Lover’s Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst, leafy greens should be “richly colored” and without “any limp or yellowing leaves” (which signal that they’re past their prime). When you are choosing root vegetables, cabbages, squash, and onions, The New Food Lover’s Companion advises that they should “be heavy for their size” and without blemishes or soft spots. If you rely on grocery delivery, you don’t have as much control over the quality of your produce. However, selecting certain types of produce can buy you more longevity. But first, a primer on how to think about storing it all.