Keeping Fruit and Veggies Longer

Fresh local produce at Torello Farm, Dromana

No one likes soggy fruit and veggies or having to waste food that’s gone off. Here are some ways you can avoid a slimy mess and keep your fruit and veggies fresh for longer.
 
Tip 1. Avoid washing veggies before you store them in the fridge
Wait until you're ready to use your veggies before giving them a wash. If vegetables get too wet, they can get attacked by bacteria and rot faster.

Tip 2. Store salad leaves and green vegetables in special containers or in the crisper section of your fridge
The cold air of the fridge can suck moisture out of veggies, so it's best to keep them in bags or containers. There are special containers that have vents in them and a small, raised shelf in the base. These ensure your produce can breathe and prevent it from sitting in a puddle of water.

Tip 3. Keep some fruit in the fridge
Fruit including strawberries, blueberries, citrus and grapes should be kept in the fridge. They’ll keep longer this way. Make sure you put them in a section of the fridge where you’ll see them and eat them before they go off.
 
Tip 4. Keep fruit that needs ripening on the bench
Fruit that goes soft and sweet when it ripens is generally best kept in a bowl on the bench, at least until it is ripe. This includes stone fruit, pears, apple and kiwifruit -- and also tomatoes and avocado — yes, these last two are technically a fruit.
Tropical fruit like bananas, mangoes and pineapples are sensitive to the cold temperature in the fridge, so keep them in the fruit bowl.
 
Tip 5. Keep mushrooms in a cool dark place
Mushrooms should stay in the brown paper bag you buy them in, as this helps absorb excess moisture to prevent bacteria. They have a high water content, so storing them in the fridge will keep them fresher longer, even up to a week.
 
Tip 6. Keep potatoes, onion and garlic in the cupboard
Potatoes, onions and garlic should be kept out of the fridge as humidity will make them sprout. Keep these in a cupboard with good ventilation to keep them dry.
 
Tip 7. Buy local produce
Buying locally grown fruit and veggies in season — for example, from a farmer’s market — can be a great way to get fresher food that lasts longer.