storing fruit and veg

danni121

Thank u. Who'd have thought so much went in to meal planning. It's quite a task when new to it!
I am one of those that's goes to shop most days and will get useless stuff like magazines etc so doing a shop once a wk should save me loads

elsien

My carrots go manky really quickly. I bought a bag from farmfoods the other day, opened the bag to let air in, and they were inedible by the next day. What can I do to keep them longer - doesn't seem to make any difference if they're in the fridge or out, and I don't have a cool larder or anywhere else to put them.

danni121

Thank u. Who'd have thought so much went in to meal planning. It's quite a task when new to it!
I am one of those that's goes to shop most days and will get useless stuff like magazines etc so doing a shop once a wk should save me loads

danni121

Sorry double post x

freakyogre

Try frozen veg (for some things) if you're not sure fresh will last.

I find carrots keep for ages in the fridge out of the plastic bag, I did read somewhere that chopping the top off helps as well which i've tried once and it did seem to keep them firmer for longer.

kitschkitty

keep all veg dry - they can end up damp from plastic bags and will then go off quicker. You can freeze most veg, often raw as well as cooked. My mum was told that freezing carrots raw will mean they retain a better texture when you defrost them and come to use them and she's tried it and assured me you don't end up with chewy freezer carrots!

If you're buying fresh veggies they should all last a week in the fridge - all mine do.

ClaireLR

You could try some of the JML keep fresh green bags, they keep our veg fresh for literally weeks! Other than that we keep our spuds and onions in a tray in a dark cool cupboard and they keep pretty well.

annie123

I have carrots in my fridge that are nearly 4 weeks old and still fresh as they day I brought them.
They are stored in these: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/stayfresh-longer-bags/F/product/1932_1094_1092

Only mine came from the 99p store:)

The carrots were reduced to 30p for a massive bag, made sure each one was dry, put 1 sheet of kitchen roll at the bottom of the bag and put them on top. I have changed the sheet every week, it does get damp, but my carrots are still fresh, and as I need the space I'm going to turn them into soup this week.

I wash the bags and leave to air dry, so far I have re used each one 4 times, no idea how long till they stop working.

Works with all veg by the way;)

ubamother

I go to my greengrocer's once a week - I use up my soft lettuce/spinach type stuff first and then go onto coleslaw type salads as the onions, carrots, cabbage etc keep longer. If stuff like carrots are going a bit soft I tend to parboil, then shake on some olive oil and herbs and freeze - then roast from frozen later. I agree with kitchkitty about taking them out of any plastic they're in - they sweat and go slimy much more quickly in plastic. Mushrooms I normally use within a day or two, or use in a dish that will be frozen. Fruit -the harder ones last - the soft ones like fresh apricots I buy usually get eaten by the family very quickly - any left (or if they've been very cheap and I've bought loads) get turned into compote and eaten with yoghurt, or made into a mixed crumble/put in muffins, whatever.

danni121

Thanks folks. Will invest in some of them bags x