{"id":124511,"date":"2021-04-05T13:17:40","date_gmt":"2021-04-05T17:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.bhgrelife.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=124511"},"modified":"2021-04-05T13:17:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-05T17:17:40","slug":"easy-tips-for-extending-the-life-of-your-seasonal-produce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.bhgrelife.com\/bhgrelife\/easy-tips-for-extending-the-life-of-your-seasonal-produce\/","title":{"rendered":"Easy Tips for Extending the Life of Your Seasonal Produce"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having a diet full of fruits and vegetables is a wonderful goal. The health benefits are numerous, and flavorful, satisfying recipes abound. However, if not stored or appropriately treated, the shelf-life of <\/span>seasonal produce <\/span>can mean throwing away food \u2013 a significant issue in the United States. Not only can that strain your budget and your health, but food waste is a growing environmental concern. The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do today to help stem the flow of waste, reduce your number of visits to the market, and ease the strain on your wallet. Read on for our favorite tips for extending the life of your prized <\/span>seasonal produce<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Avocados<\/b><\/p>\n

Whether you have a secret (or not so secret) fondness for avocado toast, love snacking on avocado chips, or can\u2019t wait to try all of <\/span>Food & Wine<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u2019s favorite guacamole recipes, dishes made from organic avocados will always tempt you. Unfortunately, if not treated correctly, this delicious, though slightly pricey, <\/span>seasonal <\/span>fruit can go bad quickly. If your avocados are already getting softer and darker green, don\u2019t hesitate to put them in your refrigerator. As <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> explains, \u201cthe cold air dramatically slows down the ripening process.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens if you only need half of the avocado? Once the avocado is sliced, enzymes are released that react to air, turning the remaining section brown. But never fear, lemons can come to your rescue. One of <\/span>Shape<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u2019s favorite ways of extending the life of your avocado is to \u201ccover the cut flesh with a thin layer of lemon juice, then a sheet of plastic wrap, and stick it in the fridge.\u201d It halts the oxidation process \u2013 saving your <\/span>produce <\/span>and your grocery budget.\u00a0If you are more gadget focused, there are handy \u201cfreshness keepers,\u201d such as the Joie Avocado Fresh Pod, that will wrap and seal the leftover fruit to keep it from browning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tomatoes<\/b><\/p>\n

Is there anything more delicious than a tomato that is harvested in the summer or early fall? From June through October, this <\/span>seasonal produce<\/span> is at its most flavorful. From <\/span>Food & Wine<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u2019s heirloom tomatoes stuffed with summer succotash to a bacon and tomato salad that turns heads, you\u2019ll love every bite.\u00a0Stored improperly, organic tomatoes can turn mealy and lose the delectable juicy, sweetness you crave. As Reilly Brock at Imperfect <\/span>Produce<\/span> reveals to <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a>, refrigeration of uncut, unripened tomatoes will not only attack the flavor but the texture, as \u201cthe cold temperature breaks down the membranes inside the fruit.\u201d Instead, Brock recommends finding a spot on your countertop, away from direct sunlight, to store them as they ripen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Berries, Berries, and More Berries<\/b><\/p>\n

Summer finds berries bursting with flavor and enticing anyone who loves snacking on the fruit, mixing them into parfaits, adding them to muffins, or baking them into the most tantalizing pies. Blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries, strawberries, and more are ready for the harvest, with many enjoying strong growth well into the fall. The temptation to buy baskets of this <\/span>seasonal produce <\/span>may be strong. But if you bring them home and immediately wash them, you may be limiting their shelf-life. As the experts tell <\/span>Shape<\/span><\/i><\/a>: \u201cMoisture encourages berries to spoil, so wait to rinse them off until just before you\u2019re ready to chow down.\u201d They also recommend periodically checking through your container to ensure that none of the berries have gone off. If so, pick them out \u2013 spoiled fruit has a way of hastening the decline of the fruit around it. To further reduce mold setting in, you\u2019ll want to make sure the berries are dried with a clean tea towel or paper towel before being placed in a breathable container. Putting berries into a refrigerator can extend the life of ripened fruit. Still, experts recommend keeping this <\/span>seasonal produce<\/span> out of the crisper, as it doesn\u2019t allow for as much air circulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have vinegar in your pantry? Soaking your berries in a water-diluted solution of vinegar can slow down the growth of bacteria. As long as you dry them thoroughly before storing them in the refrigerator, this easy trick can help your fruit last longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you bought too many berries to possibly use before they become over-ripe? Freezing at their peak ripeness can dramatically extend the life of your favorite <\/span>seasonal produce<\/span>. <\/span>Real Simple<\/span><\/i><\/a> advises: \u201cBerries, like strawberries, can simply be washed, trimmed, and frozen on a baking sheet\u201d to avoid clumping.\u00a0Are you concerned that the trays might take up too much valuable freezer space? Author Jennifer Tyler Lee tells the <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a> that \u201c[simmering] down 12 ounces of fresh berries, like raspberries, with [two] tablespoons of maple syrup to make a simple fruit compote\u201d that can then be more easily stored in the freezer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Leafy Greens<\/b><\/p>\n

As with most fresh, <\/span>seasonal produce<\/span>, the benefits of eating leafy greens like kale, spinach, and lettuce are numerous. It doesn\u2019t hurt that the greens can be delicious, both cooked and raw, in a multitude of dishes. Depending on how much you purchase, or pick from your thriving backyard garden, it can be challenging to keep your leafy greens from wilting before you get a chance to incorporate them into meals. The solution may be as simple as adding a paper towel to your bag of greens. The experts at <\/span>Shape<\/span><\/i><\/a> reveal: \u201cThe disposable cloth will absorb any moisture that forms while your greens are chilling in the fridge, keeping the leaves from wilting.\u201d It\u2019s a trick that will leave you smiling at the first crisp bite and dramatically reduce the amount of bagged greens that end up in your garbage.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Potatoes and Onions<\/b><\/p>\n

There is no quicker way to make your potatoes go off than to store them in the same bin (or refrigerator compartment) as your onions. That may seem like a contradiction, as both love cool, dark places, and keeping them out of the heat will allow them to last longer. Alas, onions release a gas that will make the potatoes sprout and eventually go green (which can be dangerous). Always keep them separate. Moisture is also the enemy of longevity for potatoes. Using paper bags, breathable cloth bags, or stacking them in a box, will help you keep the moisture and light away from your spuds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expert Reilly Brock tells <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> that onions also need to be stored in \u201ca dark and well-ventilated place,\u201d away from other <\/span>produce<\/span>.\u00a0Never store uncut onions in plastic bags, as the humidity can hasten spoilage. Before they are cut, they can be stored in baskets in your kitchen cabinet, pantry, or cellar. Once cut, they can be placed in a container and frozen or put into a resealable bag in the refrigerator. If you are looking for a gadget that contains odor and retains the moisture of a cut onion, consider a <\/span>produce<\/span> helper like the Hutzler Onion Saver.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carrots, Beets, and Turnips<\/b><\/p>\n

Organic turnips, beets, and carrots are often sold with their tops, as is the case with many other root vegetables. Unfortunately, if you store them in the refrigerator with the tops still on, this <\/span>seasonal produce<\/span> will go bad faster. All the moisture is being pulled into the tops and away from the root. <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> suggests removing the tops of root vegetables before storing them. The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a> explains: \u201cIf you remove any stems and tops from beets and turnips, both will last for months.\u201d Your crisper drawer is the perfect spot, whether you choose to store them in a container or just wrap each one before placing them in the drawer.\u00a0But don\u2019t throw out the tops! Not only can they be used as substitutions for things like parsley or chard, but the chefs at <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> loves beet tops; \u201cthey are a delicious cooked green.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apples and Bananas<\/b><\/p>\n

Like onions and potatoes, apples and bananas should be kept away from other <\/span>produce<\/span>. \u201cBoth release ethylene gas as they ripen and can cause other fruits and vegetables to ripen faster and, therefore, go bad more quickly,\u201d according to the pros at <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Alone in a crisper drawer or a bowl on the counter (away from direct sunlight), apples can live on for months.\u00a0Go ahead and purchase or pick as many as you want when they are at their best in the early fall. Even if you don\u2019t get around to baking them into pies or snacking on them right away, your delicious <\/span>seasonal produce<\/span> will still delight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bananas should not be stored in the refrigerator, but they can be placed into a paper bag, away from light, if you want to slow down their ripening. Even if you and your family love home-baked banana bread, you may find yourself fretting about your rapidly browning fruit. The good news is that you can freeze bananas for later use. Just peel them once they are ripe, chop them into manageable pieces and place them into containers in your freezer. They\u2019ll be ready for smoothies, banana muffins, and dozens of other tasty treats whenever you want them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Citrus<\/b><\/p>\n

Citrus will always suggest sunny days, whether you serve it as part of a refreshingly tangy summer dish, in a light cocktail, or as an ingredient in a thoroughly decadent pound cake. Food experts agree that citrus can usually be kept at room temperature before the <\/span>produce <\/span>reaches peak ripeness. While <\/span>seasonal <\/span>favorites, such as grapefruit, can last a couple of weeks if stored at room temperature, refrigeration can extend its life. Limes and lemons, according to <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a>, \u201cin an open container in your crisper drawer . . . will keep fresh for over a month.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Has your citrus already started to turn? No problem! <\/span>Real Simple<\/span><\/i><\/a> suggests you can extend the enjoyment of your favorite citrus when you \u201cslice the fruit up and freeze it: frozen citrus is great as ice cubes for drinks.\u201d\u00a0The cubes also can serve as delicious and healthy frozen snacks for your entire family during the hottest summer months.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"