Tips to keep vegetables fresh for a long time

Vegetables and fruits are indispensable in daily meals, so how to keep vegetables and fruits fresh longer if buying in large quantities? Some preservation tips below will help you preserve them for a long time, avoiding food waste.

Do not wash vegetables before storing.

It may sound strange, but it’s best not to wash fruits and vegetables before storing them in the fridge or cupboard. If something gets dirty, simply wipe it off with a dry cloth or paper towel. When we wash fruits and vegetables, we inadvertently remove their natural protective layers, leaving them vulnerable to mold and rot.

Remove damaged parts before storing.

Before putting vegetables in the refrigerator, we usually let them drain before putting them in the refrigerator. In addition to washing them, you also have to remove damaged parts of the vegetables to avoid them producing ethylene gas, which causes vegetables to ripen naturally quickly, spoil early, and spread to other foods.

Sort vegetables before storing

Each vegetable will have a different storage time, so if you put them all in a container, sealed bag,... it will spoil faster and lose nutrients.

Especially vegetables that ripen quickly will produce ethylene, causing rapid decomposition, losing freshness and nutrition. Therefore, before putting them in the refrigerator, you should classify them and put them in plastic wrap before storing them in the refrigerator.

Use paper for storage

You can use dry paper towels to wrap vegetables and then put them in the refrigerator. This method can keep vegetables fresh for at least 1 week, especially leafy vegetables. Wash the vegetables and put them in a plastic bag, then use paper towels to wrap them tightly before putting them in the refrigerator. This method is suitable for preserving celery, fish mint, mustard greens, etc., helping vegetables stay fresh and delicious for at least a week.

Use a dedicated vegetable box

Using specialized vegetable containers helps to retain the nutrients and freshness of vegetables effectively. In addition, they are easy to use, convenient, and can be used many times after cleaning, saving costs.

Adjust the temperature accordingly

In addition to the above methods, you can adjust the appropriate temperature to preserve vegetables. The most suitable temperature for preserving vegetables is about 3 - 9 degrees Celsius. At the same time, currently all refrigerators have a separate vegetable compartment with a preset temperature, placing vegetables in a specialized compartment will ensure longer freshness.

Some notes when preserving raw vegetables

Do not store green vegetables with other types of vegetables that produce ethylene gas: Some types of vegetables and fruits are very sensitive to ethylene gas. Therefore, if stored in an environment containing this gas, they will easily become bruised and turn yellow. Therefore, you should avoid fruits such as: tomatoes, bananas, apples, etc.

Store at low temperature: To keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer, you should keep the refrigerator at a low temperature of 1-4 degrees Celsius, not too high or too low. Because if the temperature is too high, it will create a favorable environment for bacteria to grow strongly. But if the temperature is too low, the fruits and vegetables will freeze and spoil quickly.

Do not store with cooked food: Cooked food will easily breed bacteria. Therefore, if stored with green vegetables, bacteria will invade and spoil the green vegetables very quickly.

Separate the stems and leaves: For vegetables that can be used both leaves and stems such as water spinach, Malabar spinach, sweet potatoes, etc., you should separate the stems and put them in two different bags for storage. At the same time, you need to remove the yellowed and wormy leaves so as not to affect the fresh green leaves.

Some tips for preserving vegetables without a refrigerator

Store vegetables at room temperature: Vegetables should not be stored in a closed cupboard. They will spoil faster than normal in such conditions. Instead, it is best to store them in a well-ventilated wooden or plastic box, or in fact anywhere where they can “breathe”.

Banana storage tips: If you store bananas in the refrigerator, they will quickly turn black and lose their flavor. It is best to keep them at room temperature and wrap the stems in plastic wrap. Or you can hang the bunch of bananas in a cool place, away from other ripe fruits. This trick will keep them from bruising and over-ripe too quickly.

Avocado storage tips: An unripe avocado should be placed in a thick paper bag or wrapped in newspaper and kept at room temperature until ripe. Once ripe, place in a plastic container and place in the refrigerator.

Potato storage tips: Do not store potatoes in plastic containers, but in paper bags. If kept in a cool, dark place, potatoes can stay 'fresh' for at least 2 weeks. Do not store potatoes in the refrigerator as this can change their taste and texture.

Tips for preserving carrots: After buying carrots but not using them immediately, avoid washing them because water can make them spoil quickly. Cut off the leaf stems and leave the carrots in a basket in a cool place.

Onion Storage Tip: Garlic and onions are best friends with darkness. If you don’t have a place in your house that is always dark, you can put them in a paper bag with small holes punched in it to let air out. With this trick, you can store them anywhere that meets their need for darkness.

According to VTC