Easy Tips on Keeping Fruits & Vegetables Fresh Longer
I think we would all agree that food costs have gone through the roof. If you have a large family of growing kids or teenagers, you are probably really feeling the squeeze on your budget. We are going to share some conventional food-saving tips along with some out-of-the-box ideas that will help extend the life of fruits and vegetables.
Limit How Often You Shop
Limiting how often you shop may sound counterintuitive, but studies show the more often we shop, the more money we spend. Because we have lived out in the country for years, I have gotten used to shopping once a week, and it does save money. If you are only shopping once a week, storage is a key factor in keeping your food fresh. Shopping less often will help with how often you have to buy gas, which is so expensive these days.
Invest In Storage Containers to Keep Food Fresh
Invest in some square non-BPA storage containers for your refrigerator. While you are at it, go ahead and buy 5-gallon storage buckets that have airtight lids for all grains, rice, oats, pasta, and flours for longer term storage items. I invested in square non-BPA plastic containers for my pantry so I can see grains, rice, oats, pasta, and flour. It has made a world of difference in being able to see what we have without hunting for packages in the pantry. Storing these items in hard plastic containers also keeps pests away and extends the shelf life of your food.
Green bags that limit fruit and vegetable off-gassing are a great way to keep food fresh longer. I invested in a lettuce keeper a few years ago, and my greens last for about two weeks refrigerated.
Join a CSA Community Supported Agriculture Group
CSA groups are nationwide and connect you directly with the farmer. We also have CSA groups that provide animal proteins such as beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and seafood where available. Many CSA groups provide eggs and dairy along with pantry and baked goods. CSA groups offer packages for all sizes of households, and single households can even benefit from a CSA membership. It's a win-win; you get fresh local food, and you help support local farmers and ranchers.
Visit your local Farmer's Market, this is a great way to support local farmers and ranchers while buying and supporting local businesses.
If CSAs aren't available in your area, a good alternative is Misfits or Thrive Market. Both of these online resources can help you save about 30% over grocery store pricing.
General Food Storing Hints
The following simple tasks can help save you money by keeping produce fresher longer:
- Take all twist ties and rubber bands off your fruit and vegetables before storing
- Store fruits separately from vegetables because ripe fruit gives off ethylene gas
- Store fresh fruit that isn't ripe on your kitchen counter, and when it ripens, transfer it to the refrigerator
- Square plastic containers take up 25% less space than round containers in your refrigerator
Keeping Leafy Herbs Fresh
Treating your leafy herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, and green onions, like flowers helps them stay fresh longer. Fill a vase or mason jar with a few inches of water, and occasionally trim the herbs except green onions, and replace the water. They keep on the kitchen counter but do even better with a bag over them in the refrigerator.
Keeping Potatoes Fresh Longer
I've tested so many ways to keep potatoes fresh longer; the refrigerator, brown bag with holes, mesh basket in my pantry, and keeping them in a box with separate layers of brown paper in between has kept them the freshest with the best flavor over time.
Packaged Greens and Heads of Lettuce Keeping Secrets
Once you open your packaged greens, it's best to transfer them to a lettuce keeper with a thick piece of paper towel in the bottom to absorb the moisture. The excess moisture is what causes the lettuce or greens to spoil quicker. I've also found that lettuce heads keep better, except for iceberg lettuce, when the leaves are taken off the head and stored in a lettuce keeper.
Keeping Hardy Greens Fresh
I enjoy growing kale and chard in the fall and winter, and I've found some good methods for keeping my harvest fresh. I’ve found that picking my harvest in the morning before the sun is on the crop gives them the best chance of staying fresh longer. I keep kale and chard in a lettuce keeper with a paper towel in the bottom, and my hardy greens keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Keeping Your Avocado Fresh Longer
We love our avocados, but keeping them fresh longer was a challenge until I learned these tricks:
- Keep your avocados on the counter till fresh
- If you can't use all your avocados, mash them or whip them, then scoop with an ice cream scoop, freeze in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. Take them out a few hours ahead and use them for anything that calls for avocados.
- An avocado will keep fresh longer with a slice of onion stored with it
The Secret to Keeping Bananas Fresh
I always have bananas on hand for smoothies, adding to pancakes and waffles, and to make banana bread. When you bring your bananas home, be sure to wrap the stem with a couple of layers of plastic wrap; it helps to keep your bananas from ripening so quickly.
Don't store bananas in the refrigerator; it tends to make them go brown quicker. If you can't use all your bananas or you want to use them for smoothies, freezing them whole is one of the best ways to keep them.
If you have a bunch of bananas ripening quickly and you don't have the time to cook, you can mash them ahead of time and store them in 1 cup increments in your freezer till you need to use them. Be sure to thaw your frozen bananas for cooking a few hours before use.
How to Keep Root Vegetables Fresh
One of the best ways to keep root vegetables fresh, such as carrots, beets, and radishes, is to snip off the greens before storing them in the refrigerator. Beet greens can be used in salads or are a good addition to smoothies.
These links will lead you to more articles on saving money and reducing food costs: https://shedwindowsandmore.com/blogs/blog/save-money-while-reducing-food-waste
How to beat inflation: https://shedwindowsandmore.com/blogs/blog/how-your-family-can-beat-inflation
Preserving Food to Lower Your Food Bill: https://shedwindowsandmore.com/blogs/blog/preserve-food-to-lower-your-grocery-bill
Have a great end of summer and know that we are here for you at Shed Windows and More for all your DIY projects and construction needs.