Food waste is a big problem and knowing how to store fruits and vegetables properly can help reduce food waste and save you money.
Food waste is a big problem when it comes to the environment. Over 1/3 of all food produced globally is wasted. That’s a waste of about $1 trillion of food. That’s a lot of food and a lot of money.
While the industry needs to change to really help reduce this waste, we can help in our own homes as well. On average, Americans waste a pound of food a day. So clearly there is a lot of room for improvement.
A big way to help avoid food waste is by storing fruits and vegetables correctly. Have you seen the memes about “I almost forgot to get a bag of spring mix so I could throw it away in a week?”
This is a common issue. We buy produce thinking we are going to really healthy that week and then we forget about it, don’t store it correctly, and it goes bad.
While we do have to make an effort to buy foods we will eat we are also more likely to eat them if they last longer. Storing your produce correctly will get you this extra time so you can make those good, healthy choices before the food goes bad.
How to Store Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit Storage
- Apples- refrigerator drawer.
- Bananas- on the countertop.
- Avocados- countertop to ripen, refrigerator once ripe.
- Berries- refrigerator drawer uncovered and in a vented container.
- Citrus- refrigerator shelf.
- Grapes- refrigerator drawer, in a perforated bag.
- Melons- on the countertop.
- Peaches and Plums- countertop to ripen, refrigerator once ripe.
- Pears- on the countertop.
- Tomatoes- on the countertop in a vented container.
Vegetable Storage
- Asparagus- refrigerator shelf with steams in fresh water.
- Beets- refrigerator shelf, in a bag.
- Bell Peppers- refrigerator shelf, in a bag.
- Brocolli- refrigerator shelf, in a bag.
- Cabbage- refrigerator shelf, wrapped.
- Celery- refrigerator shelf, wrapped in foil.
- Cucumber- refrigerator shelf, wrapped.
- Dark Leafy Greens & Heads of Lettuce- refrigerator drawer, in a bag with a dry paper towel or flour sack towel.
- Garlic- dark pantry.
- Ginger- refrigerator shelf.
- Green Beans- refrigerator drawer, in a bag with a dry paper towel or flour sack towel.
- Mushrooms- refrigerator shelf in a paper bag.
- Onions- dark pantry.
- Parsnips- refrigerator drawer, in a bag.
- Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes- dark pantry, away from onions.
- Radishes- refrigerator shelf, in a bag with a dry paper towel or flour sack towel.
- Salad Greens- a large container in the refrigerator with a dry paper towel or flour sack towel.
- Summer Squash- refrigerator shelf, in a bag.
- Winter Squash- dark pantry.
Additional Produce Tips
If you want to make produce last even longer try some of these tips.
- To keep avocados fresh even once they have been cut try avoFresh™. It’s a new natural product that can help keep mashed or sliced avocado fresh for a week. Having produce ready to eat means you are more likely to eat it and not waste it so this can really help avoid wasting your avocados.
- Keep an eye on your produce. If a piece starts to rot, remove it and dispose of it right away. Otherwise, it can cause the other produce to rot faster.
- Clean your produce using Eat Cleaner products. They can help your produce last up to 5x longer.
- Read How to Reduce Food Waste for even more tips.
Earth Day Giveaway
In honor of Earth Day, Eat Cleaner wants to help you avoid food waste and eat more delicious produce. To help you do this they are offering a great giveaway.
Eat Cleaner is the ONLY patented, lab proven wash that removes what water can’t and helps your produce last up to 5x longer. Be Safe/Save Waste.
- This bundle includes everything you need to eat cleaner at home and on the go.
- Clean up to 500 lbs. of produce with this kit.
- Wipes are perfect for mushrooms, apples and on-the-go snacking.
What You Get:
- Eat Cleaner’s Award-winning Triple Action Fruit + Veggie Wash Spray
- 10-ct. Powder Wash
- 32 ct. Wipes
- FOUR reusable produce bags
- PLUS THREE avoFresh Packets (enough to treat up to 9 avocados)
Total bundle value: $40
To enter simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below.
This post was submitted to bloggiveawaydirectory.com. Visit for more giveaways.
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