If you ’ve ever caught yourself throwing out more food for thought than you ’re really eating , then you know the battle of observe your kitchen stock without going overboard .
As much as I love walking through a farmer ’s market or grabbing armloads of produce from the grocery store , it ’s of import to know that not all fruits and veggies are think of to last .
So , let ’s dive into a list of seven crops you ’ll want to avoid storing for too long . Trust me , your pocketbook and your taste buds will give thanks you .
1. Leafy Greens – They’re Wilting as We Speak
Who does n’t love a crisp , fresh salad , right ? But here ’s the thing : leafy green like sugar , spinach , and arugula are infamous for going from garden - fresh to a waterlogged mess in a thing of daylight .
Once harvested , these greens start out to lose wet tight , and if they ’re go out in the fridge for too long , they turn into a slimy disappointment .
Pro Tip : If you must store them , range a report towel in your container to soak up extra wet , but even then , do n’t await them to last longer than a calendar week . Eating them as soon as possible is your good bet .
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2. Potatoes – No Dark, Dank Cellars for These Spuds
white potato might seem like they last incessantly , but look can be cozen . While they ’re a minute more long-wearing than leafy greens , potatoes should n’t be stored for extended periods , especially not in moth-eaten , damp billet like a basement .
What materialise ? They start sprouting or , worse , they can develop a virulent gustatory sensation as the starches turn into saccharide in cold temperatures .
Pro Tip : Keep your potatoes in a cool , dry place , like a pantry , but do n’t put them in the fridge . And do n’t draw a blank to use them up before they sprout ! Once those little eyes crop up , you ’ll desire to use them quick .
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3. Onions – Too Long in Storage and Things Get Funky
Allium cepa are another kitchen basic that people lean to overstock . While they can last a while , there ’s a okay line between look until they ’re perfectly caramelized and waiting until they ’re mushy and germinate .
If leave in a humid environment for too prospicient , onions will decompose , and trust me , you do n’t want that smell lingering around your kitchen .
Pro Tip : Store onions in a ironic , well - air out infinite . hang them in a meshing old bag bring wonder . Just be sure to keep them away from potatoes – they tend to make each other go badly quicker when store together !
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4. Tomatoes – The Cold Shoulder Doesn’t Do Them Any Favors
Here ’s a mistake we ’re all guilty of making : tossing those gorgeous tomato straight into the electric refrigerator .
While this might seem like the obvious matter to do , refrigerating Lycopersicon esculentum actually does more harm than good . frigid temperatures zap their flavor and plow the texture grainy . That ’s not the overbold , gamy bite you were dream of , is it ?
Pro Tip : Keep your tomatoes on the countertop where they can ripen at their own rate . Use them within a few sidereal day of reaching their peak ripeness for the good smack .
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Refrigerate only if you have to slow down the ripening process , but retrieve that you ’ll give some of that sodding tomato taste perception .
5. Garlic – Just Because It’s Dry Doesn’t Mean It’ll Last Forever
I have intercourse , I know . Garlic feel like one of those constituent you justexpectto last forever . It ’s small , tough , and hardy , right ? Well , not quite .
Over time , garlic can dry out out or sprout , and neither of those outcomes is something you want in your favorite recipes . Sprouted Allium sativum becomes bitter , and dried - out Allium sativum loses its relish poke .
Pro Tip : Keep garlic in a nerveless , ironic place , away from moisture and verbatim sunlight . apply it within a twosome of calendar month of leverage , and if you notice any green shoots , cut them out before cookery .
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6. Cucumbers – Keep Cool, but NotThatCool
Cucumbers are one of those crop that thrive in warm weather condition but do n’t handle cold memory well at all .
When cuke are exposed to temperatures below 50 ° F ( 10 ° C ) , they can get stale injuries . This mean their skins turn soggy and their insides become watery – definitely not ideal for your nappy cucumber vine salads .
Pro Tip : Store cuke on the replication for a mates of days or in the crisper drawer of your electric refrigerator if you need to keep them a minute longer .
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Just do n’t let them sit there for more than a few day , or you ’ll be chuck out them in the compost bin instead of your salad bowl .
7. Bananas – Turning Brown Faster Than You Can Blink
There ’s nothing worsened than buying a bunch of beautiful bananas , only to check them turn brownish and mushy before you ’ve even had a chance to eat one .
Bananas mature quickly , and once they ’re past that perfect sweet slur , it ’s grueling to get excited about them – unless you ’re into pee banana bread , of course .
Pro Tip : Store bananas at way temperature and separate them from the cluster to slow down down the ripening process .
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If they ’re mature too quickly , throw them in the electric refrigerator – yes , the peel will flex brown , but the fruit inside will detain fresh for a few more day .
Why Storing Produce Correctly Matters
Now that you ’ve pay off the rundown on whatnotto memory board for too long , permit ’s talk about why right memory matters .
away from the obvious fact that throwing out despoil intellectual nourishment is a waste of money , put in garden truck correctly helps you maximise its flavor and nutritional value . And who does n’t want the best - tasting , healthiest food for thought on their plate ?
While forefend store the wrong crop for too long is crucial , there are a few additional tricks you may use to extend the life story of your fresh produce .
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1. Separate Ethylene Producers from Sensitive Crops
Ethylene is a natural gas produced by some fruits and vegetables that rush along up ripening .
Bananas , apples , and tomatoes are big ethene producers , so keep them away from tender crops like leafy greens , cucumber vine , and peppers to prevent premature spoiling .
2. Keep Your Fridge Organized
A cluttered fridge makes it easy to forget about the green groceries you have . Out of raft , out of mind , right ?
Keep your fridge organized by using clear containers and label so you may well spot what call for to be eaten first .
3. Invest in Produce-Saving Gadgets
There are slew of nifty gadgets on the market designed to stretch the lifetime of your produce , like ethylene - take up bags or fridge bloomers design specifically for fruits and veggie .
While they ’re not essential , they can be a game - auto-changer if you ’re serious about trim food waste .
When it comes to stocking your kitchen , it ’s all about know what work out and what does n’t .
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While we ’d all love to believe that our favorite fruits and veggies will last perpetually , that ’s just not the case . By understanding which crops to avoid storing for too long , you ’ll save yourself from soggy salad , spud ail , and unsatisfying potatoes .
And retrieve , the fresher your produce , the better your meals will taste . So next sentence you ’re at the grocery store or James Leonard Farmer ’s market , grease one’s palms just what you need and enjoy those veggies while they ’re at their peak .
Now , get fudge and bask the freshest feel in every sharpness !
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