How to keep veggies fresh?

[100AcreWood]

Hi,
I've read a lot of conflicting information on the web about various ways to keep vegetables fresh longer. We went to the farmer's market on Sunday and already my fresh fruit and veggies are looking icky. I can't go back every 3 days to buy fresh produce. What is the secret to making them last longer?

I bought corn, blueberries, green beans and zucchini during our last trip.

 

[cornflake]

How are you storing them? Some things, you do have to buy every few days.

Corn - don't store at all, not more than a day at MOST and ideally you don't want to store it at all, you want to bring it home and cook it.

The sugar in it turns to starch as it sits and it'll just get starchy and blah.

Blueberries will start to go after a few days. Should be kept in the fridge, unwashed, in a container that can breathe, not a closed plastic bag or anything.

Zucchini also needs to breathe, or it'll sweat. Make sure it's dry and place loose in a veg bin on some paper towels. Green beans need the same sort of treatment - try a unclosed paper bag or just wrapped in some paper towel, but you don't want to keep them too long either.

Fresh veg are fresh.

 

[firstcruise]

Was gonna say the same thing you did at the end.

Fresh veggies are just that fresh. They are meant to be eaten relatively soon after you buy them. I hate grocery shopping, but if I want to eat fresh veggies I know my rear has to hit to farmers market more often than I would lke to go.

That is one reason why my strawberries are the tastiest fruit around these parts. Nothing like getting them straight from the grower and rippened naturally. Man, ...those are just sooo darn good.

 

[shortbun]

I don't keep zuchinni in the frig at all. Green beans shouldn't be washed until eaten and won't last more than 5 days. Corn should be eaten within 24 hours-preferably THAT day. Blueberries, in a bowl or open container, dry. When I buy local, I don't buy anything I'm not eating in 3 days or can't freeze.

 

[Madison'smommy]

Maybe this will give you some ideas...


http://www.thevspotblog.com/2012/01/how-to-store-fresh-produce-from-to.html

 

[mhambrick]

For blueberries I put them in the freezer, taking them out and washing them as needed for pancakes, oatmeal, ect.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Is it really hot where you live? We keep most everything in the fridge since the summers are so hot here. I have never had a problem with corn, it always seems to last forever so I am surprised to know everyone else uses it so fast. But here berries have to be eaten quickly as do tomatoes (I hate tomatoes from the fridge). We also love freezing blueberries to have year round.

 

[100AcreWood]

Maybe this will give you some ideas...


http://www.thevspotblog.com/2012/01/how-to-store-fresh-produce-from-to.html

Thanks! That was good information. It is really hot this time of year in NC. I appreciate everyone's help. I wasn't sure what worked and what didn't. Some sites say to keep green beans in water in the fridge while others say keep them in a bag and some say keep them loose in the fridge. It's very confusing!

 

[MaggieBailey]

I bought a "produce keeper" at WalMart... It was over where the measuring cups and such were, plastic container. with a green lid and green piece on the bottom. I have had much better luck using it for my fruit

 

[crazymomof4]

heading out so don't have time to read the entire thread (will later). but wanted to share:
As fruit starts to go soft or get brown spots (still good, not moldy just over ripe) you can cut it up and freeze the chunks in ziplocs. Later can be used for smoothies or cooked up with some butter for an excellent pancake topping. I have a great recipe for peach rum cake and use up my frozen soft peach cubes in this way too.
Also dice and freeze (in 1/2 cup portions) red bell peppers if they are in danger of spoiling soon. The diced peppers can be used in soups, crock pot dishes and added to rice water at the same time you add rice to kick it up a notch. Diced tomatoes can be frozen too.... of course when they thaw they must be used in a cooked dish, not exactly puttin on ur sandwich material!!!

 

[Kirby]

The following is something a friend sent me. A different friend tried it and said that it works. I haven't personally tried it.

The key to preventing moldy berries...


Berries are delicious, but they're also kind of delicate.
Raspberries in particular seem like they can mold before you even get them
home from the market. There's nothing more tragic than paying $4 for a
pint of local raspberries, only to look in the fridge the next day and find
that fuzzy mold growing on their insides.

Well, with fresh berries just starting to hit farmers markets, we
can tell you that how to keep them fresh! Heres a tip Im sharing on how to
prevent them from getting there in the
first place:

Wash them with vinegar.
When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part
vinegar (white or apple cider probably work best) and ten parts water.
Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain, rinse if you
want (though the mixture is so diluted you can't taste the vinegar,) and
pop in the fridge. The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria
that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila! Raspberries will
last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting
moldy and soft. So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems,
knowing they'll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.
You're so berry welcome!

I freeze my corn but don't let it sit for months. Had some frozen corn straight from my neighbor's garden last night. Was delicious!

 

[Chelley00]

I bought a "produce keeper" at WalMart... It was over where the measuring cups and such were, plastic container. with a green lid and green piece on the bottom. I have had much better luck using it for my fruit

Rubbermaid. I've started using these for all my produce and they last so much longer than they used to.

Read all 155 reviews
Write a review
Customer Q&A
20 Questions22 Answers
Read all
Keeps fruits and vegetables fresh and crisp up to 33 percent longer. The Fresh Vent allows produce to breathe while the Crisp Tray separates produce from moisture helping it to stay fresh and crisp longer. The Easy Find Lids system keeps lids and trays organized by snapping them to the base and together for easy storage.

Keeps fruits and vegetables fresh and crisp up to 33% longer*
Fresh Vent™ allows produce to breathe
Crisp Tray™ separates produce from moisture
Easy Find Lids™ system keeps lids and trays organized. Lids and trays snap together and to the base for easy storage
Graduated sized containers nest for compact storage. Available in 3 sizes: 2 cup, 5 cup, 14 cup
Microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe
View a Produce Saver video with Carole O'Connell
Bases and Lids are BPA FREE

 

[GraysMom]

I bought special yellow bags at Big Lots that are made to keep produce fresh longer (I think they were called Forever Fresh). They really do slow the ripening process down. I keep strawberries in their containers and put them inside the special bags, twisting to keep them sealed, and they are fine for a week in the fridge (I do go through the container and pull out any berries that are starting to spoil before putting them in the bag). Bananas and pears in the bags but left on the counter ripen much slower as well. I haven't tried the bags with veggies yet. I agree with PPs about eating corn the same day you buy it. For celery, keep it whole in the bunch and wrap it in aluminum foil, then put it in the veggie drawer of the fridge.

 

[muffyn]

http://www.producefreshies.com/

i saw this on one of those invention shows.
have not ordered it yet.