Storage Tips
Fruit
Apples - Keep loosely in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 months. Keep them
away from vegetables, as apples produce ethylene, a ripening agent.
Avocados - Firm avocados can be placed in a paper bag. Add a little
flour to quickenripening. Once ripened, the avocados should be eaten
immediately or stored in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
Blueberries - Make sure there aren't any moldy, smashed berries in
the container. Firm unwashed blueberries will hold in the refrigerator
for 1 to 2 weeks, in a dry container. To freeze: Place unwashed berries
on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, place in an airtight
container and place back in the freezer. Blueberries can be frozen for
up to 1 year.
Canteloupe - Ripen at room temperature for a day or 2 refrigerated
for up to 5 days. A cut melon will hold for 3 days.
Grapefruit - Store at room temperature for up to 6 days or they can
be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Grapes - Can be stored in a perforated bag for 1 to 2 weeks. They
must be unwashed.
Kiwi - To ripen, keep at room temperature, away from the sun for 3-5
days. Can also be kept in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in a sealed
plastic bag. Keep kiwis refrigerated away from other fruit to prevent
over-ripening.
Lemons - Store at room temperature, away from sunlight, for up to 2
weeks. They can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Store in a cool, dry place away from other fruits to avoid absorption of
off-flavors. Wash before using.
Limes - Refrigerate limes for up to 10 days in a plastic bag. Store in a
cool, dry place away from other fruits to avoid absorption of
off-flavors. Wash before using.
Nectarines, Peaches, & Plums - Ripen at room temperature. Store in
plastic bag in refrigerator once ripened.
Oranges and Tangerines - Can be stored at room temperature for a
day or two or up to 1 month in the refrigerator.
Pears - To ripen, place in a bowl at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Eat immediately.
Strawberries - Remove ripe berries and store the rest in the
container they came in. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Tomatoes (Beefsteak & Heirloom) - Store at room temperature in a
fruit bowl. Do not refrigerate, as it will make the tomatoes mealy and
flavorless.
Nuts
Store nuts in a cool, dry place, off the floor, in a Ziploc bag or
Tupperware container. Do not refrigerate, as the environment is too
moist. Nuts can also be frozen in airtight containers for longer term
storage; this prevents the nuts from going stale.
Apples - Keep loosely in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 months. Keep them
away from vegetables, as apples produce ethylene, a ripening agent.
Avocados - Firm avocados can be placed in a paper bag. Add a little
flour to quickenripening. Once ripened, the avocados should be eaten
immediately or stored in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
Blueberries - Make sure there aren't any moldy, smashed berries in
the container. Firm unwashed blueberries will hold in the refrigerator
for 1 to 2 weeks, in a dry container. To freeze: Place unwashed berries
on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, place in an airtight
container and place back in the freezer. Blueberries can be frozen for
up to 1 year.
Canteloupe - Ripen at room temperature for a day or 2 refrigerated
for up to 5 days. A cut melon will hold for 3 days.
Grapefruit - Store at room temperature for up to 6 days or they can
be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Grapes - Can be stored in a perforated bag for 1 to 2 weeks. They
must be unwashed.
Kiwi - To ripen, keep at room temperature, away from the sun for 3-5
days. Can also be kept in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in a sealed
plastic bag. Keep kiwis refrigerated away from other fruit to prevent
over-ripening.
Lemons - Store at room temperature, away from sunlight, for up to 2
weeks. They can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Store in a cool, dry place away from other fruits to avoid absorption of
off-flavors. Wash before using.
Limes - Refrigerate limes for up to 10 days in a plastic bag. Store in a
cool, dry place away from other fruits to avoid absorption of
off-flavors. Wash before using.
Nectarines, Peaches, & Plums - Ripen at room temperature. Store in
plastic bag in refrigerator once ripened.
Oranges and Tangerines - Can be stored at room temperature for a
day or two or up to 1 month in the refrigerator.
Pears - To ripen, place in a bowl at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Eat immediately.
Strawberries - Remove ripe berries and store the rest in the
container they came in. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Tomatoes (Beefsteak & Heirloom) - Store at room temperature in a
fruit bowl. Do not refrigerate, as it will make the tomatoes mealy and
flavorless.
Nuts
Store nuts in a cool, dry place, off the floor, in a Ziploc bag or
Tupperware container. Do not refrigerate, as the environment is too
moist. Nuts can also be frozen in airtight containers for longer term
storage; this prevents the nuts from going stale.
Vegetables
Arugula - Keep arugula refrigerated, stored in a perforated plastic
bag, away from fruits to avoid deterioration.
Beans (green, Romano) - Store in a plastic bag, unwashed, for up
to 1 week.
Beets - Cut tops and refrigerate in a bag for up to 1 week.
Bok Choy - Store in a sealed plastic bag for up to 1 week.
Broccoli - Refrigerate in a closed plastic bag for up to 1 week.
Brussel Sprouts - Store, unwashed, in a plastic bag. Will taste best
if eaten in 1 to 2 days.
Cabbage (green, red, Napa) - Refrigerate in a closed plastic bag for
1 to 2 weeks.
Wilted Greens - Wilted greens and lettuce are often just dried out
which can still occur even if the greens remain in constant
refrigeration. Solution: Cold water overnight. - Submerge the wilted
greens in cold water by placing them in a dish, filling it with water,
and putting it in the refrigerator overnight.
Kohlrabi - Keep refrigerated, storing in a perforated plastic bag to
retain moisture.
Leeks - Keep wrapped in a plastic bag in crisper of refrigerator for
up to 1 week.
Onions (red, yellow, white, shallots) - Keep dry. Store in the
refrigerator or pantry for 1 day. Refrigerate cut onions.
Parsnips - Keep refrigerated, storing in a perforated plastic bag to
retain moisture.
Peppers - Store in plastic bag. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Sweet Potatoes - Keep in a cool, dry, dark place. Do NOT
refrigerate!
Potatoes - Keep in a cool, dry, dark place. Do NOT refrigerate!
Radishes (French, Easter Egg, Red, & Watermelon) - Store in a
plastic bag for up to 2 weeks.
Rutabagas - Remove tops. Refrigerate in a plastic bag.
Spinach - Wash, drain, and store in a plastic bag lined with paper
towel for up to 1 week. Keep away from fruits to avoid deterioration.
Sugar Snap Peas - Store, unwashed, in a plastic bag for up to 1
week.
Summer Squash (Zucchini, Crookneck, Sunburst) - Refrigerate
in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks. Winter Squash - Keep cool and
dry. Store in the pantry.
Turnips - Remove tops. Refrigerate in a plastic bag.
Arugula - Keep arugula refrigerated, stored in a perforated plastic
bag, away from fruits to avoid deterioration.
Beans (green, Romano) - Store in a plastic bag, unwashed, for up
to 1 week.
Beets - Cut tops and refrigerate in a bag for up to 1 week.
Bok Choy - Store in a sealed plastic bag for up to 1 week.
Broccoli - Refrigerate in a closed plastic bag for up to 1 week.
Brussel Sprouts - Store, unwashed, in a plastic bag. Will taste best
if eaten in 1 to 2 days.
Cabbage (green, red, Napa) - Refrigerate in a closed plastic bag for
1 to 2 weeks.
Wilted Greens - Wilted greens and lettuce are often just dried out
which can still occur even if the greens remain in constant
refrigeration. Solution: Cold water overnight. - Submerge the wilted
greens in cold water by placing them in a dish, filling it with water,
and putting it in the refrigerator overnight.
Kohlrabi - Keep refrigerated, storing in a perforated plastic bag to
retain moisture.
Leeks - Keep wrapped in a plastic bag in crisper of refrigerator for
up to 1 week.
Onions (red, yellow, white, shallots) - Keep dry. Store in the
refrigerator or pantry for 1 day. Refrigerate cut onions.
Parsnips - Keep refrigerated, storing in a perforated plastic bag to
retain moisture.
Peppers - Store in plastic bag. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Sweet Potatoes - Keep in a cool, dry, dark place. Do NOT
refrigerate!
Potatoes - Keep in a cool, dry, dark place. Do NOT refrigerate!
Radishes (French, Easter Egg, Red, & Watermelon) - Store in a
plastic bag for up to 2 weeks.
Rutabagas - Remove tops. Refrigerate in a plastic bag.
Spinach - Wash, drain, and store in a plastic bag lined with paper
towel for up to 1 week. Keep away from fruits to avoid deterioration.
Sugar Snap Peas - Store, unwashed, in a plastic bag for up to 1
week.
Summer Squash (Zucchini, Crookneck, Sunburst) - Refrigerate
in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks. Winter Squash - Keep cool and
dry. Store in the pantry.
Turnips - Remove tops. Refrigerate in a plastic bag.
| ©2014 Eating with the Seasons, All rights reserved. |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Proudly connecting you to the freshest local, organic food and the farmers & artisans who produce them since 2002 |