When you go shopping for produce, do you ever think about where you will store it when you get home? You probably already have your own storage methods that you have always done, but how do you know if they are correct?
You could actually be affecting the way your foods taste and how long they last based on how you store them. To get the most out of your produce, make sure you are storing them properly. Here are some suggestions that can help.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a very versatile food, and they are healthy and tasty. You can put them on sandwiches, eat them in salads, make salsa out of them, and even turn them into soups and salsas.
Tomatoes taste the best and work the best in recipes when they are fresh. Keep them fresh by storing them in the cupboard and not the refrigerator. The cupboard will allow the tomatoes to keep their texture and stay fresher longer.
Potatoes
Most people don’t keep their potatoes in the refrigerator, but if you were thinking about it, don’t. Potatoes change their texture and they turn gritty in the fridge. It brings out the starch and can change the taste. Leave them in the cupboard, where they can stay at room temperature and will also stay dry.
Oranges
Oranges are a tasty fruit. They make great juice and can be added to baked goods or just eaten by themselves. A lot of people like to put their oranges in the refrigerator to keep them cold, so they are more refreshing when they are eaten.
It also helps them stay fresher longer. While it won’t hurt to leave your oranges out on the counter or in the fruit bowl, they will last longer and taste better if they are refrigerated.
Watermelon
Watermelons are the perfect summer treat. Where do you keep it before you slice it up and enjoy it? You may be tempted to put it in the fridge to keep it crisp and cool, but it’s better if stored in the cupboard. Refrigerating the melon will cause it to lose antioxidants and even flavor.
Garlic
Garlic is healthy and delicious. It’s great to add to pasta sauce, in salads, or mixed with butter and spread on bread. But how do you keep it fresh? The secret is to keep it dry. Store it in the cupboard and not the fridge. The refrigerator can cause the garlic to become soft and get moldy.
Grapes
Grapes are a refreshing snack, and they are good for you. Sadly, they don’t have a very long shelf life. If you want to make them last longer, keep them in the fridge. Keeping the grapes cooler will also make them a little tastier.
Bananas
Bananas are great snacks. They are packed with vitamins and nutrients. This is one fruit you don’t want to keep in the refrigerator. Putting bananas in the fridge changes their texture and also causes them to lose their flavor. Hang them from a banana rack to keep them from getting brown spots.
Strawberries
Strawberries are sweet and tasty. Dip them in chocolate or whipped cream or just eat them as they are. If you want them to last longer, store them in the refrigerator. The shelf life of strawberries is short, and keeping them cold will make them last longer.
Carrots
Carrots are great in soups and salads or just dipped in ranch dressing and eaten raw. Don’t toss them in the pantry or cupboard with the rest of your root vegetables, though. These do better in the fridge. They will stay firm and crunchy and retain their flavor.
Peppers
Peppers are full of important nutrients. If you don’t plan to use them the same day you buy them, store them in the refrigerator. They will stay crunchy and be more flavorful when you do eat them.
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