#2 Storage Tips

Properly store fruits and vegetables for maximum freshness; they’ll taste better and last longer, helping you to eat more of them before they go bad.

Make sure you are properly storing food in your refrigerator:

◦ Most veggies, especially those that could wilt (such as leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli) should go in the high humidity drawer of the fridge

◦ Most fruits, as well as vegetables that tend to rot (such as mushrooms and peppers), should go in the low humidity drawer of the fridge.

◦ The refrigerator door is the warmest part of the fridge. You can store condiments there, but it is not recommended to store milk or eggs in the door.

◦ The lower shelves are the coldest part of the fridge. Store meat, poultry, and fish here.

◦ Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F or below.

◦ Befriend your freezer and visit it often. Freeze food such as bread, sliced fruit, meat, or leftovers that you know won’t be eaten in time. Label with the contents and the date.

◦ Some fruits (such as bananas, apples, pears, stone fruits, and avocados) release ethylene gas as they ripen, making other nearby produce ripen, and potentially spoil, faster. Store these away from other produce.

◦ Wait to wash berries, cherries, and grapes until you’re ready to eat them to prevent mold.

Outside your refrigerator:

◦ Tomatoes. Store at room temperature. Do not refrigerate! Cold temperatures result in mealy tomatoes devoid of flavor.

◦ Some produce, such as potatoes, eggplant, onions, and garlic, should be stored in a cool, dry, dark, and well-ventilated place.

◦ Bananas, mangos, papayas, and pineapples: store in a cool place

◦ Basil and winter squashes: store at room temperature – once cut, store squashes in fridge

◦ If you like your fruit at room temperature, take what you will eat for the day out of the fridge in the morning.

◦ Store grains in airtight containers and label the container with the contents and the date.

Remember:
Proper storage of your food can make the difference between eating it and wasting it.

Helpful Links

How to store produce without plastic https://zerowastechef.com/2017/01/20/store-produce-without-plastic/?

Fruit and Vegetable storage Guide: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/smart_storage_ftgtw_2_1

Tip #1:

#1 Shopping Tip: Eat what you buy. Uneaten food squanders a whole host of resources read more