Proper Storage of Fruits and Vegetables to Keep Them Fresh Longer
April 18, 2019
Storing
fruits and vegetables properly to maintain their freshness longer is simple and
fast. Different types of produce need different storage methods, which fall
into three easy categories: freezing, refrigerating or storing at relatively
cool room temperature in a dry place. In general, all preparations of fruits
and veggies should be performed right before you plan to use them for meals. In
other words, the less fuss, the better, until preparing your favorite salads or
cooked dishes. It is always best to wait to wash or rinse the surfaces of most
types of produce until you are ready to prepare them for serving. However,
lettuce leaves and other greens are exceptions to this rule since they will
last best when rinsed well before storing.
Ideal Storage Methods to Keep Fruits and
Vegetables from Losing Their Freshness
Recommended storage methods for maintaining the garden freshness of fruits and
vegetables for a longer period of time include the following:
• Freezing. – Storing fresh fruits and vegetables in your home freezer is a
convenient and easy method of preserving produce at its ideal maturity and
height of nutritional value. Most fruits can be successfully stored by
freezing, and the majority of veggies will save longer when frozen as well.
However, most produce experts do not recommend freezing eggplant, lettuce,
Belgian endive, potatoes (unless already mashed), sweet potatoes, sprouts,
radishes or artichokes. If you happen to forget and freeze any of these items
of produce, thaw and use them as soon as possible for best culinary results and
enjoyment.
• Refrigerating. – Nearly all fruits
and vegetables can be stored in your fridge. To keep apples fresh longer, be sure
to refrigerate them since they will soften as much as ten times more rapidly
when kept at room temperature. All types of fresh berries should be stored in
the refrigerator. However, rhubarb can be kept in the fridge or freezer with
good results. Asparagus needs to be refrigerated after wrapping in moist paper
towel or pastry paper, and it will often stay fresher when you place the stalks
in a glass of cold water. You can also protect the natural moisture and
freshness of produce by storing these items in the crisper drawer of your
fridge.
• Storing at Room Temperature. –
Such items of produce as bananas, lemons, limes, tomatoes and potatoes should
be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place in your kitchen or adjoining
pantry. Potatoes require very good ventilation for maintaining freshness. Both
mushrooms and eggplant keep best when stored at cool room temperature, and
eggplant should be used for meal preparation within a couple of days after you
purchased it for optimal freshness.
When you buy fresh produce for stocking your food store or produce market from
Fruitique Wholesale, a New South Wales specialist wholesaler located in
Alexandria, NSW, you will be providing ultimate quality produce for all your
customers. Our fresh produce experts also understand the importance of proper
storage of fruits and vegetables for maintaining their optimal freshness for
longer, and our experienced professionals will provide their knowledge and
insights on this subject for the great benefit of you and your valued
customers.
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