storing fruit and veg

CupOfChai

Veg (and fruit) lasts as long as it pleases itself in my experience. You just can't tell for sure. However also in my experience, as I too shop weekly, it should last ok for the week as long as you make sure it is not bruised and not over-ripening when you buy it, even buy the things to be used later slightly under-ripe. Also, as someone said, use up the soft stuff first and if something's on the turn get it eaten or frozen.

greenbee

Potatoes, onions, carrots and other roots last ages if kept in paper and kept cool. My parents buy them in paper sacks and they last months... I buy either from the farm shop which last months or supermarket, which last only days in the plastic or weeks if taken out. Old root veg are fine in soup though.

Other F&V really lasts as long as it lasts, but there are some useful tricks, like cutting the bottom off broccoli and celery and standing it up in water. I also find that lettuce with compact hearts (romaine, cos, little gem) lasts a lot better than soft lettuce. Iceberg lasts even longer, but frankly, what's the point...

Tomatoes last ages in the fridge, but taste nicer if kept out for a couple of days.

Most veg can be turned into soup/casseroles when it looks as if it's past its best!

Larumbelle

I don't think anyone's mentioned yet, if you buy veg 'dirty' it will last longer if you leave it 'dirty'. I find that washed veg looks a lot prettier but goes off a lot faster. Plus, unwashed veg tends to be cheaper too! I second the veg storage bags, Home Bargains do them as well as the pound shop. I put a square if kitchen roll in the bag as well, to absorb any condensation. Oh, and if you put an apple in with sacks of spuds or carrots they last longer, though you have to sacrifice the apple.

Emm-in-a-pickle

I had a Lakeland catalogue a few months ago and was going to order some `stayfresh bags, but saw some (JML) in local Somerfield, around same price (£4.99). Bought some, found them absolutely brill, so got DD and DDIL some. Now, they have them in Poundland. Also they`re selling cheesebags and meatbags, which I haven`t tried yet.

Bella79

HI all,

Ive just done my meal plan for this coming week and thought i would try and buy everything in, so i dont have to nip to the shops in the week as this is leathel for me

But in the past when ive done this i always end up with soggy mushrooms and carrotts mid week, the spuds manage ok is more the veg , cauli etc, how do you guys store it for the week ?

Thankyou

quintwins

not really, onions last, but i peel and freeze carrots and mushrooms if there going into a cassarole, i only buy celery reduced (theres always reduced celery at 10p if you go late it must not be very popular here) so it's in the frezer aswell, other than that i tend to only buy veg to use that day or the next or else it's frozen, my fruit lasts 2weeks+ tho

mummyjane

I have to admit that since we went back to organic veg it doesn't seem to last long so I tend to blanch most of it and freeze until use. We get far less waste that way.

beemuzed

It depends - probably on how fresh the veg was when it was bought. If I get stuff from the farm shop it does seem to last longer than from the supermarket. I keep most veg (potatoes, greens, carrots, parsnips etc.) out in the garage in baskets and it seems to do OK mostly. The slightly bendy carrots and parsnips destined for today's soup have been around nearly two weeks. Mushrooms go in the fridge and I do try to use them up earlier in the week than later. I find celery will keep for weeks on end in the fridge!

JulieGeorgiana

I find carrots only last if I put it in a potato bag. Potatoes last 2 weeks easy. Everything else i take out of the plastic and store in the vegetable drawer in the fridge, otherwise it sweats and turns much faster.

I admit that most my veg is bought frozen, and if I need fresh veg I try and make the meals that need them Friday - Monday (shopping Thursdays) to avoid waste!

Pixiechic

My veg does seem to last the week. I keep carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, beans etc in the fridge. I don't keep veg in plastic bags as they don't live that long in them.
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, onions, swede etc I keep in a basket in a top cuboard, again no plastic bags and they last well.

I agree that mushrooms don't keep so well but I plan my meals around that. So I will use the mushrooms up before something that lasts longer! Celery seems to live forever!