How to Make Produce Last Longer

Eating healthy takes effort, and it doesn’t help that produce goes bad quickly. But with these tips, you’ll know how to make produce last longer.

The post How to Make Produce Last Longer appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.

Eating healthy is by no means an easy feat, but it is completely possible with a little bit of know-how and effort. One issue that often arises for people who are starting to eat more whole foods is produce going bad. After a few days, or even a few hours for some grocery items, your food might spoil. 

So, how do you fix this? Fruits and vegetables are proven to be good sources of energy, nutrients, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals (1). Produce is essential for a healthy diet—and in order to eat it, you need to know what to do with it to keep it fresh. Here’s how to make produce last longer.

Where Should I Store My Produce?

The main issue when it comes to keeping produce fresh is where you choose to store it: refrigerator, countertop, or elsewhere. Location can truly make all the difference when it comes to how long your food lasts.

Foods that should be stored on your countertop are those that still need to ripen. Certain produce (usually fruits) may be purchased before they’re ripe, so you’ll want to put them on your countertop until they’re ready to be eaten. From then on, it’s a good idea to eat them immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for a couple more days. Examples of some produce that you may want to leave out of the refrigerator are (2): 

• Tomatoes
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Pears

There are also certain vegetables that you should store in a cool, dry space such as a pantry—these include (2):

• Onions
• Garlic
• Potatoes
• Winter squash

These types of produce cannot be stored in the refrigerator because when exposed to moisture, their texture and flavor can change for the worse.

Any other produce should be put in your refrigerator. This especially includes fruits and vegetables that are already ripe or cut up into pieces.

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Don’t Store These Foods Together

Ethylene is a gas released by most fruits and vegetables that causes produce to ripen (3). 

“The more ripe an ethylene-producing fruit or vegetable is, the more gas it produces. So if other  produce items are nearby, the gas will lead them t