How to Keep Fruit and Vegetables Fresh Longer

Frustrated to open the fridge and find that the produce you bought not long ago has wilted or even gone bad? Looking for ways to keep fruit and vegetables as fresh as the day you bought them? Join VN Cooking to discover how to keep your produce fresh for longer!

Soak your produce 

Soaking fruit and vegetables before refrigerating them is one of the most effective ways to keep them fresh. You can extend their life by a few days by soaking them for 15 minutes in a solution of refined salt, or vinegar and water, then rinsing them well.

This helps slow the growth of mold and bacteria. Afterwards, simply let them air-dry or pat them dry. 

Simple, isn't it! 

Avoid washing vegetables before refrigerating 

Most of us wash our produce before putting it in the fridge. In fact, not washing it first will keep it fresh longer. Washing strips away the natural protective layer on the surface that helps prevent discoloration and rotting. 

If your produce is dirty, just wipe it with a clean cloth or paper towel. 

Don't store produce too cold

We often think that the colder we keep fruit and vegetables, the fresher they'll stay. But in reality, the opposite is true: the colder it is, the harder it is for produce to keep its aroma and freshness. 

So if you want them to stay as fresh-looking as when you bought them, keep them at a moderate temperature, neither too warm nor too cold (not in the freezer).

Don't store all your produce together

Bananas, apricots, melons, pears, plums, mangoes, tomatoes and some others give off ethylene as they ripen. Meanwhile, other produce is sensitive to ethylene, including apples, eggplants, watermelon, potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and broccoli. If you store them side by side, they will quickly start to rot. 

So the best approach is to store each type separately. 

Those are some tips from VN Cooking to help your fruit and vegetables stay fresh longer. We hope you put them to good use!