Storage Guidelines for Fruits & Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are the most commonly wasted foods. By using the food storage tricks in this guide, you can make your produce last longer and ensure it gets eaten. How to make your food last longer and keep it from going to waste. These guidelines help to achieve ideal temperature and moisture levels, which vary by produce item.

Why does it matter?

Wasted Food = Wasted Resources

Worldwide, it takes 2.5 billion acres of land just to grow the food we waste, and 25% of all freshwater in America is used to produce wasted food. When we throw away food, we also waste all the water and energy used to produce, package and transport it. Why does it matter?

Wasted Food = Wasted Money

The average family throws away Rs.2000 to 4000 of edible food each month. Besides leaving less money to spend on other things, wasting food can increase its cost. As demand for food rises, so do the costs of limited resources—like land and water—to produce it, which drives up prices at the store.

Where to Store

These guidelines help to achieve ideal temperature and moisture levels, which vary by produce item.

4 Places to Store

• Counter
• Cupboard/Pantry
• Fridge (anywhere) 
• Fridge –crisper drawer

On the counter

Bananas Store separate from other produce

In the cupboard

Onions Store loose or in a mesh bag separate from potatoes

Potatoes Store loose or in a paper bag separate from onions

In the Fridge

Apple: Store loose and away from other produce

Leafy Herbs: Store in a glass of water with a plastic bag over the top

Oranges: Store loose in crisper drawer

Cabbage: Store loose in crisper drawer

How to Store

Most of these guidelines help to balance moisture with airflow for different produce items. For example, reducing airflow by storing in a sealed container increases moisture, while storing loose or in a paper bag decreases it.

The tables on the following page list for where to store and how to store for most vegetables and Fruits.

Fruit/Vegetable	Where to Store It	How to Store It
Apple	Fridge	Separate from other produce.
Apricots	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose
Avocados	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose
Bananas	Counter	Store away from other fruits and vegetables.
Basil	Counter	Remove bands and ties. Trim stems and store upright in a glass of water with a plastic bag over the top.
Beans	Fridge	Store in a plastic bag or sealed container.
Beets	Fridge	Store in a sealed container with a dry towel. Store green tops separately (see “Leafy Greens”).
Capsicum Bell Peppers	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Berries (blueberries, strawberries)	Fridge	Store in a shallow container lined with a dry towel; leave lid slightly cracked for air circulation. Wash only when ready to eat.
Broccoli	Fridge – crisper drawer	Wrap in a damp towel.
Cabbage	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Carrots	Fridge	Store in a sealed container with a dry towel. Store green tops separately (see “Leafy Greens”).
Cauliflower	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store in a plastic bag or sealed container.
Celery	Fridge	Store in a sealed container.
Chard	Fridge	Remove bands and ties. Store in a sealed container lined with a damp towel.
Cherries	Fridge	Store in a plastic bag or sealed container. Wash only when ready to eat
Cilantro coriander leaves	Fridge	Remove bands and ties. Trim stems and store upright in a glass of water with a plastic bag over the top.
Citrus Fruits	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Corn	Fridge	Store loose.
Cucumbers	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Radish	Fridge	Store in a sealed container with a dry towel. Store green tops separately (see “Leafy Greens”).
Eggplant	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Garlic	Cupboard/Pantry	Store loose
Grapefruit	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Grapes	Fridge	Store in a sealed container. Wash only prior to eating.
Beans	Fridge	Store in a plastic bag or sealed container.
Green Onions	Fridge	Wrap in a damp towel.
Herbs, leafy	Fridge	Remove bands and ties. Trim stems and store upright in a glass of water with a plastic bag over the top.
Chili pepper Hot Peppers	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Kiwi	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose
Leafy Greens	Fridge	Remove bands and ties. Store in a sealed container lined with a damp towel.
Lemons	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Mangos	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose.
Melons	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge	Store loose.
Mint	Fridge	Remove bands and ties. Trim stems and store upright in a glass of water with a plastic bag over the top.
Mushrooms	Fridge	Store in a paper bag.
Okra	Fridge	Store in a paper bag.
Onions	Cupboard/Pantry	Store loose or in a mesh bag separate from potatoes.
Oranges	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Pears Peaches	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose.
Peas	Fridge	Store in a sealed container.
Peppers	Fridge – crisper drawer	Store loose.
Pineapple	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose.
Plums	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose.
Pomegranates	Fridge	Store loose.
Potatoes	Cupboard/Pantry	Store loose or in a paper bag separate from onions.
Pumpkins	Cupboard/Pantry	Store loose.
Radicchio	Fridge	Remove bands and ties. Store in a sealed container lined with a damp towel.
Radishes	Fridge	Store in a sealed container with a dry towel. Store green tops separately (see “Leafy Greens”).
Raspberries	Fridge	Store in a shallow container lined with a dry towel; leave lid slightly cracked for air circulation. Wash only when ready to eat.
Root Vegetables	Fridge	Store in a sealed container with a dry towel.
Strawberries	Fridge	Store in a shallow container lined with a dry towel; leave lid slightly cracked. Wash only when ready to eat.
Tomatoes	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge	Store out of direct sunlight.
Turnips	Fridge	Store in a sealed container with a dry towel. Store green tops separately (see “Leafy Greens”).
Watermelon	Ripen on counter, then store in fridge.	Store loose. Once cut, seal cut watermelon halves or slices in Zipper bag Store in the refrigerator.
Wax Beans	Fridge	Store in a plastic bag or sealed container.
Cut/chopped Fruits or Vegetables	Fridge	stored in air tight containers and refrigerated

 

Tips to Prevent Food Waste

Buy What You Need 

• Plan meals and make a grocery list with quantities needed.
• Purchase local and in season when possible.
• Buy fresh items in smaller quantities and more often, if possible.

Did you know about Your Fruit and Vegetable?

Like many fruits, bananas give off ethylene gas, which can cause nearby produce to spoil. Keeping bananas separate helps ensure a longer shelf life for other items.

Apples keep ripening after they’re picked, so keeping them in the fridge will preserve them better.

Wondering why a dry towel is recommended for some items? For those that shouldn’t get too moist, try towels help absorb unneeded dampness.

Wondering why some instructions suggest a damp towel? For items that need a bit more moisture, damp towels help preserve proper humidity.

One rotten grape can spoil the rest. With grapes – as with cherries and all berries – remove rotting fruit before storing.

To spruce up greens that have gone limp, immerse them in ice water for 30 minutes or place upright in a glass of water for a few hours.

Wondering what’s the use of paper bags? For produce that shouldn’t get too damp, paper bags help absorb moisture without letting produce dry out completely.

Sulphur gas from onions makes potatoes spoil faster, so separating the two can help potatoes last longer.

Tips and Tricks

To make cut avocados last longer, leave pit in and brush surface with lemon or lime juice. Refrigerate in a sealed container.

Many fruits give off a gas that makes other produce spoil, so storing fruits and veggies in separate crisper drawers can help prevent veggies from ripening too quickly.

Once cut, store melon in a sealed container or cover with plastic film and refrigerate.

To help partially-eaten peppers last longer, store inside a sealed container with seeds and stems attached.

Once cut, refrigerate winter squash in a plastic bag or sealed container to extend shelf life.

When storing veggies in plastic bags, poke a few holes in the bags to provide air circulation.

Want those tomatoes to ripen quicker? Place inside a paper bag with an apple and leave on the counter until they’re ripe.