There is always lots and lots of fresh produce available at grocery stores! Before you spend a ton of money, be sure you know the best way to store fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh the longest.
How To Store Produce
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Let’s start with washing your fresh fruits and vegetables. Everything needs to be washed (except bagged, pre-washed produce). But the best time to wash your fruits and veggies is right before you use them. They’ll stay fresh longer that way. I’ve got more tips for washing your fresh produce right here.
In The Refrigerator
You know those two drawers in the bottom of your refrigerator? Those are called the crisper drawers. And you should have two of them. If you want your fruits and vegetables to stay fresh as long as possible, it really does matter what you put in them! Most of your vegetables should go in the high humidity drawer, while most of your fruits should go in the low humidity drawer. Of course, there are some exceptions, so let’s dig into that!
Most crisper drawers have a humidity setting slider that looks sort of like the one in the pictures below. Mine is helpfully labeled “fruit” and “vegetable,” but yours might say “low” and “high.” You can adjust the humidity level inside the drawer by moving the slider. In the high humidity setting, the slider closes a window, and keeps more air and moisture inside the drawer (top photo). In the low humidity setting, the slider opens the window, and lets more air and moisture out of the drawer (bottom photo).
So why does it matter? Because of ethylene. Ethylene is a plant hormone. Lots of fruits and some vegetables release this hormone as a gas. Ethylene is the cue for fruits and vegetables to ripen. Not all fruits and vegetables respond to ethylene, but for produce that is sensitive it will make them get over-ripe and go bad quickly. So if you “trap” an ethylene-sensitive vegetable like lettuce inside a high humidity (closed) drawer with an ethylene-producing fruit like an apple, your lettuce will get wilty start to rot pretty quickly. No fun, right?
Opening the little window in the drawer (making it a low humidity drawer) is enough to let that ethylene out. The rest of your refrigerator is big enough that the gas will be diluted and there will be limited effect on the rest of the produce in your refrigerator. (Don’t worry, ethylene is just a plant hormone, and does not affect people at all.)
So, what should live in your low humidity (open window) drawer? Fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene should live there. Those are things like: apples, avocados, blueberries, citrus fruit, grapes, green onions, kiwi fruit, melons, mushrooms, nectarines, okra, peaches, pears, and plums.
What about the high humidity (closed window) drawer? Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene should live in your high humidity drawer. These are things like: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, green beans, leafy greens, lettuce, peas, peppers, spinach, summer squash, and zucchini.
The humidity settings on these drawers work the best when the drawers are at least 2/3 full, so be sure to stock up on those fruits and veggies!
It’s best to store your produce in the packaging it came in. If you need to wrap it up, you should loosely wrap it in paper or perforated plastic bags. Let your produce breathe! This lets the ethylene out (for those ethylene-producers), and keeps any extra moisture from getting trapped inside. (Extra moisture can be a breeding ground for bacteria, and can make your produce rot faster.)
I like these vented plastic containers from Rubbermaid. They come in three different sizes. There is a tray that fits in the bottom of the container, so your fruit isn’t sitting in a puddle of water or juice. The lid is vented to let any ethylene out. These two things help keep your produce fresh-fresh!
Do you know how long you can keep fresh produce around? Check out this article to see how long you can store fresh produce in the refrigerator. Planning to freeze some for later? This article will tell you how long you can stash produce in the freezer.
On The Counter
Not everything belongs in the refrigerator. Some of your fruits and veggies will do better if you leave them out on the counter. (And hey, if you can see them, you’re more likely to eat them, right?) Bananas and tomatoes should never go in the refrigerator. Refrigerator temperatures will keep bananas from getting any riper, but it will also keep them from getting any sweeter. Tomatoes will get a mealy texture and will lose much of their natural flavors if they are refrigerated.
Citrus fruits can be stored at room temperature for 7-10 days. If they are refrigerated, they can pick up some odors from the refrigerator, and no one wants to eat an orange that smells like last night’s pizza!
Melons, cucumber, summer squash, zucchini, and eggplant all do better on the counter at room temperature. Once melons are ripe, they should be eaten within 7 days. The vegetables will only last on your counter for a couple of days, so be sure to use them soon!
Some fruits and vegetables will ripen better if you leave them on the counter. If you’re not ready to eat them once they are ripe, you can extend their freshness by a few days in the refrigerator. Things like apples, avocados, kiwi, nectarines, peaches, pears, and plums fall into this category.
All your fruits and vegetables should be refrigerated once they are cut. Use them within 2-4 days.
In The Pantry
While green onions need to be refrigerated, “dry” onions (like yellow or white onions) should not go in the refrigerator. Cold temperatures will make them get mushy and rotten quickly. Store onions in a cool, dry place, like a cabinet (not under the sink or near the dishwasher), a pantry, or a basement. We use a basket in the corner of our pantry.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes should never go in your refrigerator. The starches in the potato will turn to sugar and will change the flavor and texture of your potato. (Not usually in a good way!) Store potatoes in a cool, dry place. But don’t store your potatoes with your onions! Onions are ethylene producers, and potatoes are sensitive to ethylene. If they are stored too close together, the onions will make your potatoes rot – fast. We use a basket in the opposite corner of our pantry (it’s a big pantry). If you’re having trouble keeping potatoes fresh, move your onions farther away. Sweet potatoes can be stored with your regular potatoes, but use them up in 7-10 days.
Garlic can also be stored in a cabinet or pantry. Keep the head and all the papery layers intact. Just break off one clove at a time when you’re ready to use it.
Free Printable for How to Store Fresh Produce
Do you want a cheat sheet to keep in your kitchen? Click here to download a free copy of this handy kitchen printable!
Now that you know the best ways to store your farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, be sure to check out this post for tips on how to wash all your fresh produce. What new fruits and vegetables will you try this season?
Are you looking for more details on a certain fruit or vegetable? You’ll want to take a look at these articles for even more tips!
- How to Store Asparagus
- How to Store Blackberries
- How to Choose & Store Celery
- How to Store Garlic
- How to Store Grapefruit
- How to Pit an Avocado
Enjoy!
3 Ways to Take the Fear Out of Your Kitchen
- How Long to Keep Foods in the Refrigerator
- How to Substitute Dried Herbs for Fresh Herbs – free printable!
- An Easy Way to Cut Corn Off the Cob
I wasn’t aware that there are refrigerators with hi-lo crispers. I don’t have that in mine. My crispers are just 2 separate drawers with nothing that distinguishes the hi-lo humidity. So what would my crispers be considered and what should I store in them? Would it be better to store my meats in them and just buy portable containers that are made for hi-lo storage?
Thank You
Kathy
When green onions are stored with strawberries in high humidity bin
, will this veggies not transmit the onion smell to the strawberries and cut watermelon? What about cut melons?
Thanks for sharing awesome post for how to store fresh and delicious fruits
Best article yet on storing food! Thank you!
I was wondering about turnips and celeriac root. High humidity like carrots?
Yes, high humidity storage for turnips and celeriac root. If the greens are still attached, cut them off first. The greens will go bad before the roots.
I have same problem, mine dont have so how do i know, n what do i put in them
They are probably high humidity drawers. Take a close look at them, and see if there is any kind of vent or window. If there is a vent, it’s a low humidity drawer. If you can’t see a vent, consider it a low humidity drawer.
Thank you for this article! I’m not really good at knowing where things go, so this will help me keep things fresh.
Which drawer would raspberries and blackberries go in?
Put raspberries and blackberries in the low humidity (open window) drawer.
Thank you!
Crack your drawer with your low humidity items and close your high humidity items drawer for the same effect.
Shouldn’t they go on the counter?
Good tip, Deone!
Deone, berries will go bad quickly on the counter. Keep them out for 1-2 days if you’re going to eat them quickly. Otherwise, keep them in the low humidity drawer in your refrigerator.