Making Veggies Last
One question I get asked about regarding my once a month grocery shopping is, “What do you do about fresh fruits and vegetables?” Here are some tips I have learned along the way to keep your fresh fruits and vegetables lasting a bit longer:
Fruits and Vegetables that will last about 1 month (3-4 weeks) include:
- carrots — cut off the green tops before placing them in a paper bag in the veggie drawer of your fridge.
- potatoes — take out of the bag and store in a wire basket in a cold, dark place.
- onions — same as potatoes, but in a separate basket. Storing onions with potatoes could make them spoil quickly.
- apples
- oranges
- lemons
- limes
- grapefruits
Fruits and Vegetables that will last about 7-10 days include:
- iceburg lettuce — keep in a plastic bag in the fridge and spray with water every few days. Lettuce likes to be kept cold and wet.
- cucumbers
- celery — keep in the plastic bag in the fridge. One trick is to place in a shallow dish with water in the fridge.
- green beans
- tomatoes — keep on the counter, stem side down, away from sunlight.
- melons
What we do is try to use up the fruits and vegetables that perish quickly during the first week or 2 of the month. I plan the meals accordingly. If something looks like it will spoil before we get a chance to eat it, BEFORE it starts to go bad, I will chop it up and freeze it in zip-lock baggies to use later on during the month. This works well for celery, peppers, onions, carrots, green beans, and broccoli. Frozen celery, onions, and carrots can be added to soups, stews, or frozen peppers can be added to chili.
Have a tip to make fresh fruit or veggies last longer that I forgot to add? I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!
