There is nothing more frustrating than produce going bad before you get a chance to eat it. Fresh fruit and vegetables are essential for healthy eating, but they're more expensive than frozen goods and are not always widely available in every community. This makes proper storage even more important.
We spoke with Nicole Richard, a food safety specialist from the University of Rhode Island, to find out how to store everything from herbs to fresh fruit. Based on our conversations with experts and our own expertise, we researched the eight best products to keep your produce fresh longer.
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A basket for your blackberriesSweet enough for storage and serving, the Bramble Basket holds 16 ounces of berries while maintaining air circulation. The plastic container holds the colander, which you can also use for rinsing.
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Multi-purpose, reusable bagsStasher bags help food stay fresh with a pinch lock seal and leakproof construction. The bags are freezer and microwave safe, so you can use them for produce storage, heating, and serving.
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Herb hydrating containerThis plastic container has room for water in the bottom and holds a perforated basket that keeps the herbs away from the sides. The whole thing is narrow enough to tuck in your fridge doors.
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A sculptural fruit bowlOn this structure, bananas can hang from the top hook to ripen evenly, while other produce can be tucked in the bottom half. This protects them from the bananas' ethylene production.
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Bags that go from market to fridgeOpen weave, cotton bags, like the ones in this set, allow just enough air and moisture in to keep produce crisp, not moldy. You can even mist the bags with water.
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An extra crisper drawerThe Produce Keeper acts as an extra crisper drawer that you can move around your refrigerator. The lid holds a carbon filter that traps ethylene, and it must be replaced after 90 days.
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A natural remedy for bacteria growthThis slip of paper is infused with natural spices and oils that limit the growth of bacteria that can rot your fruit and vegetables.
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Reusable storage lidsWhen all you need is half a tomato, now you can skip the hard-to-manage plastic wrap and go for a Food Hugger. These silicone lids are airtight and stretch to fit whatever you need to save.
Produce storage tips
Most of us think about temperature and moisture when putting away our groceries, but the phrase "ethylene production" might be new. Ethylene is a gas released by certain fruits and vegetables as they start to ripen. It can also speed up the ripening process of surrounding produce. Richard, a food safety specialist, says high ethylene producers, like bananas, apples, and avocados, will cause ethylene-sensitive crops, like leafy greens, to wilt and become yellowed unless your produce is protected.
- How to store bananas: As high ethylene producers, bananas should be kept separate from other produce. It is best to hang a bunch of bananas so that they can ripen evenly without developing brown spots.
- How to keep herbs fresh: Tender herbs, like basil or parsley, should be refrigerated standing in water like flowers, said Richard.
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