Fruits and vegetables make great snacks, but sometimes storage and freshness can make keeping produce around the house a hassle. Here are some simple ways to keep fruits and vegetables at their best:
Prevent potatoes from sprouting by storing an apple with them. The ethylene gas in the apple retards the growth.
Keep avocados green by soaking peeled avocado halves in cool water — just a minute or two will prevent discoloration.
Stone fruits, like peaches and plums, will ripen quickly if stored in a paper bag, out of direct sunlight and at room temperature. A banana added to the bag will speed up the ripening process even more.
Spinach often has a gritty taste that comes from small amounts of dirt trapped in the leaves. Washing them in warm water will loosen the dirt better than cool water.
Fresh berries are a delight, but they go bad quickly. When you bring berries home, spread them over a paper towel and pick out the bruised and rotten ones. Then store the others in an aerated plastic bag.
