Storing Fruit and Veg

ganderson1804

I am looking for a bit of education here...

What is the best way to store fruit and veg? I currently put all veg in the fridge but the carrots end up slimy as do the potatoes.

Fruit just depends what space I have.

Can someone tell me what I should be doing?! I have plenty cupboard space but should they be in boxes, left in bags...? Any help appreciated!

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wannalot

I definitely take all fruit and veg out of plastic bags. The moisture in a plastic bag makes them go off much quicker. I try to keep as much fruit and veg (except bananas) as possible in the fridge. If I run out of space, then carrots, potatoes, butternut, squash and turnip keep well in a small basket in a cool cupboard, away from sunlight.

Wherever I store them, I always put a sheet of kitchen roll in with them too. I might be imagining things, but I think this attracts moisture and keeps stuff fresher for longer.

Linda32

Hi,

First things to do is to take everything out of any plastic bags.

I keep our potatoes in a cloth sack, outside in our entry*. I have an allotment so I have a few, but its just the same as buying a sack of potatoes. When I buy potatoes I keep them outside as well.

*I was once asked what an entry is, so just in case, its a passage way which runs between two houses. The entry belongs to our house not next doors.

If you can only keep yours inside then I would put them in a cloth bag. Its got to be worth buying one. Lakeland sell them but you might find something cheaper.

Carrots I keep in the entry as well, layered in soil. Please don't think I am mad If I've bought any then I chop them up and freeze them, as I can't keep them inside either.

All salad type things I keep in the salad drawer in boxes with no lid or directly on the bottom of the drawer.

Onions and garlic (if I have any) I keep in a cloth bag on the back of the kitchen door.

I think dark and cool sums it up really. If you do use your cupboards, try to keep them away from the cooker.

HTH

Edited to add, about fruit, I keep satsumas, apples and bananas in a bowl on the kitchen table. Soft fruit in the salad drawer. Grapes in the fridge in the plastic punnet they come in.

flipper_72

I also empty everything out of the plastic bags, in the bottom of the salad drawers i put a piece of kitchen roll, or more recently a flannel as I had run out, then the veg on top. I keep a couple of all fruit in the fruit bowl for easy access by the kids and the rest in the fridge to make them last longer. Grapes and tomatoes stay in their punnets on the fridge shelf.

Potatoes either stay in the sack in the garage or get decanted into a wicker basket in the cupboard. Onions are in a bowl in another cupboard. I didn't buy these specifically, they were things I had and didn't have any other use for.

TravellingAbuela

A tip I got off somebody on here was to store potatoes and onions in Primark brown bags. I keep them in the garage and they really do work!

Salad and veg are stored in green Stayfresh Bags (courtesy of Poundland) and kept in the fridge. (The bags are washable and reusable.)

I keep grapes, berries & pineapple (once sliced/diced) in the fridge but other fruit is just kept in the fruit bowl.

I am also a fan of kitchen towel in the salad drawer.

Linda32

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

A tip I got off somebody on here was to store potatoes and onions in Primark brown bags. I keep them in the garage and they really do work!

:T :rotfl: :T Brilliant idea, pretty much anything will be cheaper than a lakeland bag.

GreenQueen

If you can buy "dirty" veg, they keep much longer - a lot of the problems are caused by the veg being washed before you buy them. I have had pre-washed carrots going slimy within a day of being bought.

We always buy BIG bags of potatoes, carrots and onions about this time of the year, and only wash what we need, when we need it. I second the "dark, cool and dry" argument.

GQ

ganderson1804

oh gosh you lot all seem a bit more rustic than me! I don't really have anywhere outside to store things - in the gas box?!

I have a utility room - should I empty potatoes / carrots / onions into a box in there?

Mojisola

If the carrots have any condensation on them when you open the bags, let them dry out before you put them away in the fridge or a brown bag.

poorly_scammo

General rule of thumb for me - if it has been grown under the soil e.g. potatoes, carrots then keep it dark and cool rather than in the fridge and definitely do not keep produce in plastic bags. They sweat.

[Deleted User]

Fridge minus plastic bags ,spuds and onions in cloth bags(actually similar to the bags you used to have at school for plimsolls I have two that I hang in the cupboard under the stairs and they have draw string ties. Could probably cobble together one from an old jeans leg .sew the bottom up, then turn over the top and run some string though the hem like a pyjama cord.Even do it by hand, if you haven't got a machine ( gosh I'm a frugal old bird )Citrus and apples bananas etc, I have a cold conservatory and they sit out in the cold and keep quite well. if veg looks like its getting past its best, make it into soup for pennies. Helps to stretch a meal as well if you have soup to start with. Carrots sit in the drawer at the bottom of the fridge on kitchen roll.Celery I wrap in foil in the fridge, same with Lettuce. Cucumber I just stick a bit of foil over the cut end. Peppers I slice and dice and if I'm not using straight away they can be frozen for chucking into spam bols or curries