Fruit & Veggie Guide: How To Wash Produce & How To Store Produce

How to Properly Wash & Store Produce. Handy guide via DesignMom.com - How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

Here is my not-at-all-comprehensive-but-very-helpful-guide to Properly Washing + Storing Fruits and Vegetables.

How to Store Produce Secret #1:

Some vegetables and fruits should never be refrigerated.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom
How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom
How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom
How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom
How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

TOMATOES will turn mealy and flavorless if refrigerated. Ick! Keep at room temperature to ripen and only store cut tomatoes in the fridge.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

MELONS such as cantaloupe and honeydew will turn rubbery if kept in the fridge, though refrigerated watermelon does absolutely fine, before and after cutting.

Before cutting melons (and other tough skinned produce like AVOCADOS, PINEAPPLE and SQUASH) wash with a little dish soap and a scrub brush, rinsing well, to prevent spreading any microbes lurking on the surface.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

WINTER SQUASHES should be kept in a cool dark place instead of the fridge.

POTATOES should not be kept in the fridge either. The starches in the potatoes will turn to sugar and the potatoes will taste sweet.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

How to Store Produce Secret #2:

Ripen these foods on the counter and then refrigerate: AVOCADOS, KIWI, STONE FRUITS (peaches, plums, nectarines, etc.) and use within a few  days.

BANANAS should also be kept at room temperature. If refrigerated, peels will turn black, but it doesn’t really affect quality or taste. (Very ripe bananas can be frozen, un-peeled, until later. To use, simply peel the frozen bananas under warm water and add them to smoothies or mash for breads and other baked goods.)

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

As soon as you bring them home, check over BERRIES and pick out any that show signs of spoilage, because mold will quickly spread to other berries. They should be kept dry. Store them in a plastic clamshell container or paper bag in as few layers as possible. You can also store them on paper towels to absorb any excess moisture. Berries should never be rinsed until just before eating.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

BEANS and PEAS should always be stored in the fridge after picking or buying, and used immediately.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

How to Store Produce Secret #3:

Use perforated plastic bags  to allow for some air circulation, while not letting produce dry out.

ONIONS should be stored away from other foods, particularly potatoes. Keep them in mesh bags in a cool, dark place and they will keep happily for months. You can also refrigerate onions, but be careful because the strong flavor might transfer to other foods. The exception to this is GREEN ONIONS, which should be stored in a plastic bag in a refrigerator crisper drawer.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

The best way to store ASPARAGUS is to cut 1/4″ off the bottom of the stalks and store them upright in a little water.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

How to Store Produce Secret #4:

Storing in water also works for fresh herbs, particularly parsley, cilantro, oregano, sage, marjoram, basil, rosemary, tarragon, mint, and chives.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

For sturdy leafy greens like KALE, CHARD, and COLLARDS, rinse well, remove the tough stems and cut the leaves into ribbons. Store in a  plastic bag with a damp paper towel to keep them fresh and ready to use in recipes during the next week.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

Remove tops from root veggies like BEETS, TURNIPS, RADISHES, CARROTS, etc., and store separately in plastic bags with a damp paper  towel to keep them from wilting. Use the tops within a few days. The roots will keep for much longer. Before cooking with un-peeled root veggies, use a sturdy brush to scrub the nooks and crannies.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom
How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

How to Store Produce Secret #5:

Good news! You don’t always have to peel root vegetables. Especially if they’re from your own garden and you know they’re  chemical-free. A good brush to remove the dirt is all you need.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom
How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

SALAD GREENS should be refrigerated until ready to eat. When you buy them, keep them in the plastic tub they come in with a paper towel between the greens and the lid to absorb any excess moisture. If you buy them bagged, get them from a local farm, or pick them from your garden, wash greens in a big bowl of water with a little white vinegar added. Gently swish to remove dirt and bugs. Repeat until water is clear, and spin or gently pat dry. Store in plastic bags or tubs with a damp paper towel.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

Use the same washing process for broccoli and cauliflower.

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

How to Store Produce Secret #6:

Head lettuce can tolerate more moisture to keep it crisp, so it doesn’t have to be super dry before going in the fridge. (Yay for timesavers!)

How to Store Produce featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Design Mom

Never soak MUSHROOMS in water. If they are very dirty, give them a quick rinse. Otherwise, leave them be.

And there you have it. Clean fruits and vegetables, that won’t spoil minutes after you buy them. Enjoy the harvest!

P.S. — More Secrets to Living Well.

79 thoughts on “Fruit & Veggie Guide: How To Wash Produce & How To Store Produce”

  1. My husband serubs the celery off with the same scrubber we use for our dirty dishes. No, he doesn’t wash it first. Isn’t that really bad because of the bacteria in the brush? I refuse to eat that celery.

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  4. Thanks for the tips. There is the belief that vinegar also assists in dissolving some chemical residue on non-organic produce. Also, it can be added to the washing machine with new clothes that contain various chemicals used by manufacturers.
    Re your advice on storage using plastic bags, it would be great to have some ideas NOT involving plastic owing to the environmental and landfill impact of this. It is huge!

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  7. Great tips! I live in Costa Rica and buy all my fruits and veggies at the Faria (farmer’s market). Everything looks so good, I always over buy! The last time I was in the United States, I brought back some “Green bags” and those have been awesome for keeping things fresh as well.

  8. I always cut my celery into smaller lengths and wrap them in silver foil and put into the fridge…..stays crisp and last for ages!
    Also, I wrap up my carrots in cling film, put into the fridge and these also last ages and do not go soft. I do not wash the celery or carrots until I want to use them.

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  13. I like your tip about how you should keep potatoes away from other highly aromatic fruits and vegetables as potatoes can absorb flavors over time. I’m sure this is especially true if you have them pre-cut and peeled for quick dinners after work. I’ll have to make sure that I keep them properly sealed to prevent this from happening. Thanks for the post.

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