vegetable storage

angie_loves_veg

We have started a diet (aka a healthy eating plan) hance we are buying *significantly* more fresh fruit and veg weekly. I have completely run out of space for all the fruit and veg to be stored in the fridge any longer....

Things that don't need the fridge (I haven't listed these, but include pots, onions, squash, apples, oranges, bananas etc etc etc) are stored in the fruit bowl or a large, cool dark wicker drawer.

The following items would normally be stored in the fridge, but any alternative suggestions for storing these would be appreciated - or, which are desparate for fridge space?

strawberries
raspberries
melon
grapefruit
carrots
courgettes
tomatoes
spring onions
cucumber
lettuce (whole and loose leaf)
cabbage (white, pointed and red)
broccoli
sprouting broccoli
aubergine
green beans
leeks
mushrooms (various types)

I think that's it - at least for this time of year! advice gratefully received!!!

mjburton

My figuring on storage is ....
If it's not stored in a fridge in the supermarket/greengrocer etc it doesn't need storing in the fridge at home.
Just make sure it's not in a sunny spot!

purpleivy

It might be that you have to shop more frequently. I'm finding I can't keep up with fruit and veg! The problem is it gets wasted, better to shop more regularly and maybe keep some canned or frozen fruit in for if you run out.

angie_loves_veg

only problem is that I can only get to market every Thursday....... I really am trying to work weekly with this one

beedeedee

How about using a picnic box? I use mine when I'm overflowing with fruit and veg. I've got two ice packs, so I use one whilst the other is refreezing. I put a rack of some kind - I use a plastic sandwich box to stand the ice pack on. Kept stuff for weeks like this.....

Seakay

Tomaoes actually taste nicer if you don't store them in the fridge.
Citrus fruit has a nice thick skin so should be fine in an unheated room out of direct sunlight.
Do you have a garage with space for a veg basket? They usually stay reasonably cool even in summer and are frost free in winter.
Carrots should be fine in a brown paper bag/sack especially if they have earth on them - in fact all fruit and veg should be taken out of plastic; they may be in danger of drying a little but they will not get sweaty and slimy and start to decompose.
Spring onions and leeks should be fine out of the fridge, especially if away from the light - if the outer layer drys a little you can always peel it away as you would with an onion, the same with cabbages.

Spendless

angie_loves_veg wrote: »

We have started a diet (aka a healthy eating plan) hance we are buying *significantly* more fresh fruit and veg weekly. I have completely run out of space for all the fruit and veg to be stored in the fridge any longer....

Things that don't need the fridge (I haven't listed these, but include pots, onions, squash, apples, oranges, bananas etc etc etc) are stored in the fruit bowl or a large, cool dark wicker drawer.

The following items would normally be stored in the fridge, but any alternative suggestions for storing these would be appreciated - or, which are desparate for fridge space?

strawberries
raspberries
melon
grapefruit
carrots
courgettes
tomatoes
spring onions
cucumber
lettuce (whole and loose leaf)
cabbage (white, pointed and red)
broccoli
sprouting broccoli
aubergine
green beans
leeks
mushrooms (various types)

I think that's it - at least for this time of year! advice gratefully received!!!

my mil leaves tomatoes,spring onions, cucumber,lettuce all in bowl on side withoiut problem. I got a smaller fridge last year, and now leave most veg in the veg rack, carrots don't keep long, so I've gone back to leaving them in fridge. I'd also keep berries there. Melon is ok out of it, until it's cut into. My mum for many years kept the majority of her fruit and veg in a box in our garage (dark and cool).

HTH

sunshine6650

Do you store carrots in the fridge or in dark bag with soil? that might make sense to keep longer? same with pots?

annie123

why not start growing your own, then you only need to pick what you want to eat.
very easy to do.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=9001607#post9001607

angie_loves_veg

...I do grow my own! I have two large growing beds at home, plus a herb bed, a greenhouse, a raspberry/strawberry/asparagus/gooseberry/rhubarb area, and an allotment - however at this time of year we are not up to full harvest, so I use the market (not the supermarket - I avoid paying the markup and for the packaging).

From my patches at the moment I am only getting carrots, salad leaves and the broad beans will start in a few weeks. Come the summer, we will be virtually self sufficient in F&V and I only lift exactly what I need, but Oct - May is my real problem - I guess part of it is that I am so used to lifting what I need, I am hopeless at storing other peoples produce at the other times of the year...

lil_me

I bought some veg bags from Kleeneze which are helping my carrots, potatoes, muchrooms etc last longer.