The best way to keep your produce fresh longer is with a simple change of habit: by storing it properly as soon as you get home.

Fortunately, there are easy adjustments you can make to the way you store food that ensures it is kept fresher for longer.

These tips don’t take up too much time or effort but they make a world of difference.

How to Organize Your Fridge

An organized fridge is the beginning of great produce.

Before you do anything else, sort through your fridge and remove any old or unwanted items that are taking up space.

Always dispose of spoiled food immediately.

Quick fridge organization tips:

1. Store Opened Food in Air-tight Containers.

This tried and tested trick keeps your opened food fresh longer and keeps your fridge from getting messy.

I always recommend glass Tupperware containers or resealable silicone pouches.

2. Consider How You Organize Your Shelves.

Use the upper shelves to store ready-to-eat meals and leftovers for quick and convenient access.

Use the bottom shelves to store items that need higher temperatures to be cooked (like raw meats) This prevents any cross-contamination if drips or spills happen.

Store fruits and vegetables in the lower crisper drawers so they’re kept at a lower temperature and protected from any drips or raw meat.

Keep condiments & non-dairy drinks in the fridge door. It’s the warmest place in the fridge.

3. Keep an Open Container of Baking Soda to Help Eliminate Odors.

Make sure to replace the box every 3 months.

How to Properly Store Specific Produce

How to Store Fruits

Ensure the fruit is ripe before transferring it to the fridge for proper storage. Fruit that should ripen on the counter are apricots, avocados, guava, kiwi, mangoes, melons, nectarines, papaya, peaches, bananas, and plums.

Freeze your fruit if you can’t eat it right away. Most fruit will be fine in the freezer for up to one year.

Apples – store cut apples in cold, salt water to prevent oxidation.

Citrus fruits – oxygen circulation allows citrus to last longer so best to store in a mesh bag.

Berries – keep dry and don’t wash until you eat them. Avoiding moisture keeps away mold growth.

Tomatoes – store uncovered, stem down on your counter to allow them to continue to ripen and develop a vibrant flavor.

Bananas – wrap stems with plastic wrap to stop the spread of ethylene gas that causes premature spoilage.

Melons – refrigerate only after cutting in an airtight container to inhibit bacterial growth.

Pears – to preserve cut pears, sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent oxidation and keep them from browning.

Pineapple – If uncut, wrap it in plastic before you store it in the fridge, and if cut, keep it in an airtight container.

Time-saving tip – If you want some fruits to ripen faster, place it in a paper bag with an apple or banana. Apples and bananas release ethylene gas that helps other fruits ripen.

How to Store Vegetables

Fresh produce– keep dry and don’t wash until you eat them. Avoiding moisture keeps away mold growth.

Greens and fresh herbs – store in a sealed bag to reduce oxygen flow and maintain nutritional value.

Asparagus/Celery– keep upright in a glass of water. This keeps the bunch fresh and hydrated longer.

Mushrooms – store together in a paper bag to absorb excess moisture

Carrots – cut off the leafy green tops otherwise the tops will continue sucking the nutrients out of the carrots as you store them.

Cucumbers – thoroughly dry before storing and wrap in a paper towel. This prevents sogginess brought on by condensation or humidity from excess water.

Bell Peppers – store in a dry, sealed bag in your vegetable crisper to prevent it from turning soft, slimy, or moldy.

Meal Prepping

As a final thought, you can drastically reduce your food waste by meal prepping.

Meal prepping makes shopping easier and more efficient and allows you to budget your food purchases to avoid wasting food.

It also saves you time in the kitchen as you cook for the entire week at one time.

Use these tips to reduce food waste, save money and enjoy fresher, healthier meals.

Making these minor changes now will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

And don’t forget that sometimes, your phone needs decluttering too.

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