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Food Choices: Keep it Fresh - How to Store Food Properly - January 6, 2012
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basket of vegetablesWe've written before about how food waste contributes to climate change, and that serving reasonable portions, planning before you shop, and storing food properly can go a long way toward reducing that impact.

Correct food storage can dramatically  increase the shelf life of your foods. But while things like breads and dairy have simple, straightforward rules (keep bread in an airtight container, refrigerate dairy below 40°F, etc.), fruits and vegetables can be a bit more tricky. Some produce likes to be stored at very cold temperatures (carrots, for example), while others benefit from a slightly more temperate environment (e.g., bell peppers and eggplant). Luckily, the folks at Organics to You have put together a page of tips about the proper handling and storage of your edibles. Their page includes information about how produce items should be stored, and even what foods can be stored together (ethylene-emitting fruits such as apples, pears, and bananas can alter the taste of certain vegetables). Check out their page for full information, or consult the graph below for a partial summary.

 

Temperature

Humidity

 

Types of Produce

Cold

Cool
(refrigerated)

Cool
(non-refrigerated)

High

Low

Store In:

Artichokes

      X  

Crisper + plastic bag

Asparagus

      X  

Crisper + wet paper towels + plastic bag

Bell Peppers

  X   X  

Plastic bag

Broccoli

      X  

Crisper

Cabbage

      X  

Crisper + plastic bag

Carrots

X     X  

Plastic bag

Cauliflower

         

Crisper + plastic bag

Celery

      X  

Crisper + plastic bag

Corn

      X  

Crisper

Cucumbers

  X      

Plastic bag

Eggplant

  X      

Plastic bag

Green Onions

         

Crisper + plastic bag

Green Beans

         

Crisper + perforated plastic bag

Garlic

    X   X  

Mushrooms

  X      

Paper bag

Onions

    X   X  

Potatoes

    X X  

Burlap, paper, or perforated plastic bag

Radishes

         

Crisper + plastic bag

Salad Greens

      X  

Crisper + wet paper towels + plastic bag

Spinach

X     X  

Plastic bag

Summer Squash

  X   X  

Plastic bag

Sweet Potatoes

    X   X  

Tomatoes

    X    

Paper bag

Winter Squash

    X   X  

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