15 Tips to preserve fruits and vegetables for longer

Sometimes, when you go to buy the food for the month, you get really excited and throw a little bit of everything into the cart, because “it’s better to have more than not to run out”. Fruits and vegetables continue to ripen and, unfortunately, you end up throwing away a lot of what you bought because they are products that are no longer in good condition for consumption.

The conservation you give them can favor their economy and prevent them from being discarded because they spoiled. It is important to take into account the climate of the place where you live, as this can also affect the maturation of food. The more humid and hot the place, the more risks some vegetables are at.

O awesome.club shares with you some tips that can be applied in the conservation of your purchases and for food to remain fresh for longer.

Bananas produce ethylene gas during ripening. By covering the stems with plastic or aluminum, the substance can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the fruit, preventing the pulp from softening too quickly.

Its usual duration will increase from 4 to 5 days.

Excess moisture can rot onions in a short amount of time. The ideal is to keep them in a cool place with little light. You can put them in nylon or fabric socks that have holes and hang them up to improve their conservation.

Its duration can be extended up to 6 to 8 months.

If you usually put garlic in the fridge, it would be better to reconsider, because although it may last, it is more likely to rot from moisture. Ideally, keep it in a container or paper bag that is in a dark, dry place.

If you keep garlic heads whole, they can last up to 2 months. If you separate the teeth, its duration is shortened to 3-10 days.

If you don’t want to put these vegetables in the fridge, it’s important to keep them in water, like flowers. Then you can cut the leaves you need to consume them.

In good condition, they can last 4 to 5 days.

Avoid putting them in plastic bags. It’s best to leave them inside mesh or dark bags that have some perforations that encourage perspiration. If desired, another option for preserving them can be a box with grids covered with newspaper or absorbent paper. The ideal temperature that potatoes should have ranges from 7°C to 11°C.

Duration 1 to 2 weeks.

If the avocados are green and you put them in the fridge, you will end up slowing down the ripening process. For them to ripen, you will need to wrap them in newspaper and leave them in a paper bag. Later, put them in the cupboard where you usually keep the other foods. If you want them to ripen faster, put a banana in the bag.

With bag: ripening 3 to 5 days Without bag: ripening up to 7 days Bag and banana: 2 to 3 days

In the case of tomatoes, the riper they are, the more concentrated their flavors. When they come into contact with the freezer and remain cold, they lose their flavor. The ideal is to keep them at a temperature above 10°C.

Their duration can vary from 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on the degree of maturity they are in when purchased.

It is important not to wash the mushrooms if you are not going to consume them right away. If they are placed in contact with water, moisture is generated because they do not dry completely. It is recommended to store them in a paper bag and add a few sprigs of parsley so that they work as an antioxidant and stains do not appear. Afterwards, you must store them in the refrigerator.

Duration 3 to 5 days.

The ideal is to wash the strawberries only when consuming them, otherwise they can absorb water and start to soften, accelerating the maturation process. To disinfect them, use one part white vinegar and two parts water. It is important to check that there is no mold on one of them, as this can ruin the rest. If freezing them, remove the stem and place them in an airtight bag. If they are going to be kept in the fridge, leave them in a colander to breathe.

In the fridge: can last 5 to 6 days. In the freezer: 2 to 4 months.

Wash and disinfect. Make sure the leaves are completely dry before storing them in the refrigerator. For this, you can use a plastic container or an airtight bag. It is important to wrap them well with absorbent paper, as this will eliminate the remaining water from the washing process in its entirety.

If you store them correctly, they will last 1-2 weeks in good condition.

Sometimes we only use one half of the lemon and end up throwing the other half in the trash. The best thing is to wrap the remaining part in aluminum. Another alternative is to put salt in the pulp and store it in the fridge. Before using it, just rinse it well.

Whole: up to 2 weeks. Broken: up to 3 days without changing color and flavor.

So that it doesn’t turn black, put a few drops of lemon until all the pulp is covered or use a little edible oil. Another alternative is to cut a few pieces of onion and arrange them in a container to put the avocado on top.

It will keep its color for 1 to 2 days.

You didn’t calculate the quantity very well and there were some potatoes left over from the food. As they are already peeled, if you leave them in the fridge, the next day they will be darker. To preserve them, place them in a container and cover them with water. Add a few drops of white vinegar and store them in the refrigerator.

Duration: 3 to 4 days.

Sometimes, when we realize it, the bananas are already very ripe and there are so many that we cannot consume them all at that moment. To keep them in good condition, remove the skin, cut them in half and place them in the freezer in an airtight bag.

They can last from 2 to 3 months.

If you like practical things, you can have cubes full of flavors and aromas in the freezer ready for you to cook. Chop the herbs or plants you want to use and place them at the bottom of each of the ice tray spaces. Add melted butter or oil. If you opt for butter, let it cool and freeze.

Duration: from 2 weeks to 1 month.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the intake of fruits and vegetables in a daily amount close to 400 g. It is important that the consumption of these foods is varied because they provide the body with nutrients that help prevent diseases.

The colors of fruits and vegetables indicate specific properties:

Greens: provide vitamins A, C and K, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, fiber and chlorophyll. Thanks to their nutrients, they are foods that improve the functioning of the liver, accelerate metabolism and promote digestion, preventing constipation. Red and purple: prevent cardiovascular diseases and have lycopene, which reduces the risk of cancer and diabetes, in addition to strengthening the immune system. Foods in these colors are high in antioxidants and fight memory loss. Orange and yellow: they contain a lot of vitamin C. They improve the skin, prevent vision problems and some diseases, such as flu and cancer. Whites: they have minerals like selenium, improving the immune system. Prevent fluid retention and protect the muscles.

And how do you preserve fruits and vegetables? What tip would you add to the list? Tell us in the comments below.