storing fruit and veg

kitschkitty

Well, I'm normally dubious about these kinda things, but I've got some sugar snap peas that must be a month old or more and they're still as green and crisp as when I bought them - I've been very happily surprised - and to top off my money saving, I'd been looking for some of those bag clips for them, and my local cheap shop had some (horrid cheap looking ones) 99p for 16, but I decided not to buy them. Popped in a different shop and found 20 nice ones for 99p, only when I got to the till it turned out they were only 50p as they were having a half price sale as they were closing for a refit - bargain!

Mel2

It sounds just like my fridge. Not made by Hotpoint is it? Mine's quite new and I have exactly the same problems you're having. I've sworn I'll never by another Hotpoint one again! I'm forever chipping off ice from the back wall and mopping up water which trickles down the back, under the veg box and out the bottom corner of the door causing the hinge to rust!!! I hate it!!!!!!!!:mad:

leiela

I have a small veg draw in my fridge which i keep my salad stuff etc in which is fine but it's not big enough to hold everything, i've tried keeping things like my root veg in a kitchen cuboard, but my house is modern and open plan and it's just tooooooo warm even potato's don't last more than 2 weeks before they's sprouted and are ready to invade.

I've concidered trying the shed but i think it's abit damp out there any idea's??

SunnyGirl

I keep mine in the fridge on the shelf above the salad tray. Don't know if this helps you though if your fridge is small it may not work just thought I'd throw my bit in IYSWIM lol!!

Middlers

I keep all mine in the garage in a covered box to keep daylight out. Veg lasts a long time. If you have no garage then a shed should do just fine.

ariba10

Root vegetables (except potatoes) we clean, prepare and then freeze.

As we do not intend to keep them longer than 4/6 weeks we have had no problems yet with freezer burn etc.

Pink.

Hi leiela,

I keep mine either in the fridge or in the garage which is dark and cold at this time of year. I recently got some stay fresh bags from lakeland and they are great for keeping the veg crisp and fresh for much longer.

There's an earlier thread with lots of ideas that should help so I'll add your thread to it to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

leiela

Yah i just worry about them being in the shed the roofs abit leaky and i worry about things getting rained on, i get a big delivery of veg about once every 2 weeks but i end up throwing loads out cause it go's mushy.. eewww.

The farmshop i order from does really great hampers and it would work out cheaper to get one of those a month rather than paying for 2 deliverys and having less veg.

Unfortunatly my fridge/freezer is pretty small.. to go in my tiny tiny kitchen i sware i have to worlds smallest kitchen and there's just no room in it for veg as well.

It all comes in stackable crates, might try them in the shed, i've got potato's out there and they are surviving "i think"(only moved them out there a week ago)eeek... maybe throw something over them to protect them?? any idea's?

It's just i have a HUGE order coming on thursday and i REALLY want it to last it's not OS or MS throwing this stuff away all the time, even if it is cheaper to buy in bulk.

leiela

Ok i think im going to try and keep most of my delivery (which arrives tommorrow) in the shed, it comes plastic bags in plastic stackable crates which you give back when they next delivery arrives.

Im thinking if i take it out of the plastic bags and put the stuff back into the crates with newspaper and a huge plastic sheet over the top (gonna try and prop it up so it's protecting the veg from the rain/leaky roof but not stopping the veg breath) does this sound like it will work??

Also this is a list of what im getting (don't know quantity's) how long should it last out there and which items should i still keep in the house or fridge. just so i can prioritise eating it or make best use of my limited freezer space for anything that needs it.

Carrots
Potatos
Onions
Artichockes
cauliflower
savoy cabbage
leeks
parsnips
broccolli
celeriac
tomatos
cucumber
lettuce
peppers
celery
cress
radish
apples
pears
rhubarb

kitschkitty

Shed:
Carrots
Potatoes
Onions
Artichokes
cauliflower
savoy cabbage
leeks
parsnips
broccoli
celeriac
celery
radish
apples
pears
rhubarb

I'd probably keep these indoors:
tomatoes - depends how ripe they already are - if not too ripe fine in the shed
cucumber - if it's one of the thicker skinned varieties probably fine in the shed, the thinner skinned (and commercial ones) never seem to last as long
lettuce
peppers - these are probably fine in the shed but I find any small blemish can quickly deteriorate into a very mouldy pepper so best to keep an eye on them!
cress - probably just keep it in the kitchen so you remember to keep it watered, or use it up quickly.