storing fruit and veg

fluffalo

I haven't tried this myself, but one of my work colleagues buries carrots in the garden, and digs them up with a trowel as needed. She says they keep all winter like that

gazza975526570

fluffalo wrote:

I haven't tried this myself, but one of my work colleagues buries carrots in the garden, and digs them up with a trowel as needed. She says they keep all winter like that

Now that is EXTREME!!!!!

twink

you dont need to bury the veg in the garden but have a large pail and put some sand or peat in it slightly damp and put your carrots, turnips etc in there

Debt_Free_Chick

amarillo_2004 wrote:

This week the carrots were in a veg rack in the kitchen

I would guess it's too warm & humid in the kitchen. Ideally, veg needs to be cool & dry. An unheated utility room, the garage or garden shed would be better.

organic_wanabe

I bought some of the green "Stayfresh Longer" bags from Lakeland. They claim that it is "a scientifically designed bag which keeps fresh produce in peak condition". It is claimed that "A very porous, entirely safe and natural Japanense stone powder is suspended in the polythene film. This absorbs the ageing hormones present in fruit & veg and therefore increases the storage life. The surface is treated to prevent moisture and bacteria forming." They certainly work for me, stored in the fridge.

carbonel

Keeping veg in the fridge dehydrates it. If it's gone all limp and wrinkly try putting what you need in a bowl of lukewarm water for a couple of hours before you want to use it.

Tomatoes that have gone soft/wrinkly - just leave them out of the fridge overnight, by morning they should have re-hydrated and be plump and smooth again.

Try wrapping veg in newspaper (brown paper better still) and don't put in the fridge - just a cool place, should keep well like this.

Don't buy it unless you're sure you are going to eat it with in 2 or 3 days.

As some others have said - put it in a bucket of moist soil, peat or sand - I do and it keeps for weeks.:T

gemmaj

Brocolli and Cauliflower last ages if you stand the stalk in water, and put in the fridge. Every week or so slice a little off the base and refresh the water.

basil01_2

Whilst at the local farm shop I noticed large sacks of vegetables for sale, at a fiendishly low price in comparison to purchasing in small quantities. With winter approaching fast I was thinking of buying a few sacks and saving money in the process.

I was wondering if any of you know how best to keep these vegetables fresh? Reading gardening books say that you should keep them in a box in straw. This sounds great but I have mice and its hard enough keeping their population down to low levels without giving them a whole new bed to sleep (and reproduce) in! :rolleyes: I have quite a large area under the stairs (an old pantry) that has a flagged floor and stays pretty cool all year round, would it be suitable? If so, what do I put them in?

Also does anyone know how long stored vegetables will keep for? It’d be great to get enough in for a few months.

Basil

Ches

TBH the only way I know how to store veg for any length of time (especially green veg) is to freeze it. You could make up stew packs with root veg and onions and freeze. Green veg I think you would need to blanch first. Of course if its just potatoes you are talking about these should keep in a cool place but if they do start to shoot or go soft cook them and mash then put heaped spoonfuls (duchess potatoes) onto a tin lined with greaseproof paper and freeze. When solid knock off into bags.

paddy's_mum

Can you tell us what vegetables were on offer. Different veg have different requirements but some will only go a week or so, however cool you keep them.