HOW TO KEEP YOUR PRODUCE FROM SPOILING TOO QUICKLY
Summer is in full force and with the beautiful weather comes a variety of seasonal produce available at our fingertips. From the vibrant colors to the impeccable flavours, it is no wonder we load up during our weekly grocery visit. But with great tasting vegetables comes great responsibility and more often then not we find ourselves losing the battle and tossing out lifeless vegetables. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent this, read on to find out how!
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
If you experience your fruits and veggies are spoiling way too quickly, you might be keeping them to close to incompatible produce. Certain items release ethylene gas as they ripe, which can cause other produce nearby to ripen prematurely. To avoid early ripening keep ethylene producers away from those sensitive to it. Find a list Here
FLAVOUR SAVER
Store certain foods out of the refrigerator to prevent them from losing any flavour. Tomatoes for example are a kitchen necessity year round, but keeping them fresh in the summer heat can be difficult. A common mistake is keeping them in the fridge to increase their longevity, but in reality this rids them of their flavor. Instead, try keeping them in a bowl at room temperature with their stems down for ultimate freshness and flavor. Other vegetables to leave out of the fridge include, potatoes, onions and squash.
WAIT TILL THE TIME IS RIPE
For some foods putting them in the fridge is a bit of a waiting game. Pears, peaches, plums, kiwis, mangoes, apricots, avocados and bananas should be stored in the refrigerator once they have ripened for extended life.
IF YOU CAN'T EAT 'EM, FREEZE 'EM!
It’s easy to overestimate how much produce you actually need – avoid having to waste your food, instead take the time to peel and chop your ripe fruits and veggies and use them at a future date. Frozen berries are great for smoothies and frozen vegetables are perfect for soups and stews.
If you have any tips or tricks on how to keep your produce fresh, we would love to hear them! Leave a comment below, or email us.