3 Ways to Extend the Shelf Life of Produce

When you think of fresh produce, do you picture biting into a crisp apple? Can you almost hear the crunch of sugar snap peas? Maybe you imagine drizzling your favorite salad dressing over fresh cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and perky butter lettuce.

However you savor the flavors of seasonal produce, you want it to stay fresh and tasty. Finding smart ways to store your produce is about more than enjoying your fruits and veggies to the fullest; it also benefits the environment and your grocery budget by reducing food waste. Here are three tips that can help you extend the shelf life of your fruits and vegetables.

Wait to Wash Leafy Greens

There are three main ways to keep your leafy greens fresh:

Keep them cool.
Store them in an air-tight container.
Keep them dry.

Excess moisture can cause spinach, lettuce, and other greens to wilt faster, so waiting to wash your leafy greens until you're ready to use them can help them stay fresh.

Washing your produce as soon as you unpack your groceries might feel like a time-saving step, but this can trap extra moisture in your airtight container. To keep your salads perky and crunchy, refrigerate unwashed greens in a reusable zip-up bag or glass container with a few dry paper towels to absorb excess moisture.

Stick to a Schedule

We've all been there: You get a little overenthusiastic at the grocery store, and suddenly you have more produce than you know what to do with. One of the best ways to enjoy your produce while it's fresh and cut back on food waste is to shop strategically. Signing up for a customizable weekly fresh produce delivery service can help you stick to a schedule and order the right amount of produce.

One of the best ways to find more affordable, fresh produce is to shop conventional and organic grocery delivery services that rescue ugly produce. Delicious fresh fruits and veggies that are oddly shaped, slightly discolored, or don't meet superficial grocery store standards often go to waste, so choose a fresh vegetable delivery service that sells these misfit items at a lower price. A weekly customizable grocery box from a company that benefits your budget and the environment by reducing food waste can help you enjoy the right amount of fresh produce for you.

Get to Know Ethylene Gas

Certain fruits and vegetables release ethylene, a natural gas that can cause some produce to ripen and spoil faster. Knowing which fruits and veggies release ethylene, which ones are sensitive to this gas, and which items are unaffected by it can help you store your produce wisely. Here are a few examples of each category, so you can figure out which items are happy to cohabitate, and which ones need a little space.

Produce Ethylene:

Apricots
Figs
Nectarines
Papaya
Tomatoes
Potatoes

Are Sensitive to Ethylene:

Broccoli
Cucumber
Eggplant
Onions
Squash
Sweet potatoes

Are Not Sensitive to Ethylene:

Blueberries
Garlic
Grapefruits
Oranges
Pineapples
Strawberries

Separating ethylene-sensitive and ethylene-producing produce and following the other tips above can help keep your fruits and veggies fresh for longer.

About Misfits Market

Building a better food system can be delicious. Misfits Market is a grocery delivery service that partners with smaller farms and emerging food producers to rescue high-quality produce and grocery items that don't meet superficial store standards. This grocery subscription lets you skip checkout lines, save money, and support a more sustainable future. You can customize your weekly delivery to include conventional and organic produce, fresh meat, pantry items, and other grocery store staples. In an effort to make high-quality, more affordable fresh groceries accessible to everyone, Misfits Market strives to serve as many urban and rural areas as possible. Whether you're looking for a reliable grocery delivery Houston locals trust or a grocery delivery service that reaches rural communities, turn to Misfits Market. They proudly serve residents throughout the U.S.

Original Source: https://bit.ly/42JWj8n