How can I help to keep my produce from spoiling too quickly?

Question

With food costs going up I can't afford to keep throwing money away because my produce spoils easily. For example, I can't keep a bag of lettuce from wilting for more than a few days. At that point it is not good eating and I have to toss it out. Are there settings that I should set my fridge too, or something else that will help me keep my produce fresh?

Thanks

Answer 1

green bags by Debbie Meyer

they work wonders!

just put your produce in the bags and they will stay fresher longer.

btw you can probably buy them at your local super market

Answer 2

Although the best storage methods for fresh vegetables can vary within each vegetable category (green onions differ from Spanish onions, for example), here's a list with some basic guidelines. A few overall points to keep in mind first, though:

Refrigeration can damage some vegetables (such as potatoes), yielding an off-flavour or mushy texture.

Keep vegetables that are not stored in the refrigerator (such as potatoes and onions) away from heat sources and out of sunlight.

Some vegetables (like tomatoes and eggplants) can be left on the counter to ripen and then refrigerated to extend their lifespan.

When storing veggies in plastic bags, make sure to poke some holes in the bag to allow for proper air circulation. Or buy perforated plastic vegetable bags.

Keep vegetables and fruits in separate produce drawers because some fruits, such as apples and pears, produce a substance called ethylene that hastens ripening of other produce.

Do not store potatoes and onions together because they each give off gases that can cause the rapid decay of the other.

Although some vegetables can last for long periods of time when properly stored, try to use them sooner, rather than later, for optimal flavour and nutrient value.

Add crispness back to limp veggies like celery and asparagus by placing them stem-side down in a small amount of water; refrigerate until crisp.

Last but not least, do not wash vegetables until you're ready to eat them!