General Food Storage Tips
- Sort through fruits and vegetables before storing and discard
any that are decayed or severely damaged as they produce more
ethylene gas. Contrary to popular belief, one bad apple really
can spoil the whole barrel!
- Be sure the surface of your fruits and vegetables are dry. Wet
surfaces promote bacterial growth. While the air around produce
should be moist, the produce itself should be dry to the touch.
- Use perforated plastic bags for storing produce with high moisture
contents. Perforated bags let oxygen in and keep moisture and
carbon dioxide out.
- Don't wash produce until you are ready to use it.
- Be sure to clean your crisper drawer on a regular basis to prevent
mold and bacteria from growing and transferring to your produce.
- Keep the produce drawer temperature around 32 F or 0 C for most
vegetables.
- Line your produce drawers with a double piece of paper towel
to absorb excess moisture.
- You can speed the process of ripening fruits and vegetables
by placing them in a paper bag with an apple or banana. The trapped
ethylene gas will accelerate the ripening process.
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