Food Waste Can Be Prevented - Let’s Talk About How To Store Your Produce
Written By Paige Howlett summerlunch+ staff member
Did you know the average Canadian household throws away around 1300 dollars worth of food per year? It’s true, and most of it is preventable (1). Today we are sharing some tips to help you reduce your preventable food waste and save your money.
Fruits and vegetables often go bad quicker than other food items
Fruits and vegetables are among some of the most wasted food items. This article will focus on the proper storage of fruits, vegetables and herbs to ensure you get the most out of them! We will break down how to prepare them for storage, how to store them, and how long they can last if stored properly.
What should I do?
Below we will break down what you can do to keep fresh food fresh.
Vegetables
Garlic and onions (2)
Prepare them for storage: Keep them as is
Storage: store in a cool dry place with good air flow such as a dry basement room or cupboard.
How long they keep: around 3 months
Green onions/ scallions
Prepare them for storage: You don’t need to wash but if you do make sure they are thoroughly dry
Storage: store in a glass jar with about an inch of water in the bottom. Place a large plastic bag over the jar and secure it with a rubber band. Change the water every few days.
How long they keep: 2-3+ weeks
Leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, lettuce, etc)
Prepare them for storage: Keep unwashed OR wash and thoroughly dry
Storage: store in an airtight container or bag with a paper towel or cloth to absorb excess moisture.
How long they keep: 3-5 days
Tomatoes
Prepare them for storage: Leave as is in the container they came in.
Storage: store at room temperature.
How long they keep: 1-2 weeks
Potatoes and sweet potatoes
Prepare for storage: Place in a paper bag.
Storage: Similarly to garlic and onion, you can store them in a cool, dry, dark place.
How long they keep: around 2 months
Celery
Prepare for storage: Wash and cut into smaller pieces that will fit in a container
Storage: place in an airtight container and fill with water. Replace water every 1-2 days.
How long they keep: 1-3 weeks
Cucumbers
Prepare them for storage: English cucumbers wrapped in plastic can be kept as is. Persian cucumbers should be washed and thoroughly dried
Storage: store English cucumbers in the fridge. Washed and dried persian cucumbers can be stored in an airtight bag or container with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
How long they keep: around 1 week
Peppers
Prepare them for storage: Keep in the plastic bag they came in.
Storage: store in the vegetable drawer of your fridge
How long they keep: 1-2 weeks
Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage (3)
Prepare them for storage: Keep as is, or chop up and thoroughly wash and dry.
Storage: store chopped and washed vegetables in an airtight container or bag with a paper towel or cloth to absorb excess moisture. If your produce is not chopped up, place cabbage right in the fridge, and place broccoli and cauliflower heads in an airtight container or bag.
How long they keep: around 1 week if chopped up, 2-3 weeks whole
Carrots
Prepare them for storage: Keep in the bag they came in or peel and cut into smaller pieces.
Storage: place bag in crisper drawer of fridge. Place cut carrots in a container and submerge in water. Replace water every 1-2 days.
How long they keep: whole carrots last around 1 month, cut carrots last around 2 weeks.
Fruits
Berries
Prepare them for storage: Wash and thoroughly dry berries
Storage: place the refrigerator in an airtight container with a paper towel or cloth to absorb excess moisture.
How long they keep: about 1 week
Citrus fruits (3)
Prepare them for storage: Take them out of the mesh bag they came in
Storage: they can be kept at room temperature until ripe and then placed into the refrigerator. However, if there is room in the fridge, it is a good idea to place in the fridge right away as they will keep for much longer
How long they keep: around a month
Herbs (4)
Hard herbs (rosemary, thyme, etc)
Prepare them for storage: Wash and thoroughly dry
Storage: place on a single layer in paper towels, roll up paper towels and place in a ziploc bag or airtight container.
How long they keep: 2+ weeks
Soft herbs (basil, dill, cilantro, mint, etc)
Prepare them for storage: Wash and thoroughly dry
Storage: tear off any leaves near the bottom of the stems (you don’t want the leaves sitting in water. Place stems in a jar with around 1 inch of water. Cover with a plastic bag and secure with a rubber band.
How long they keep: 2-3+ weeks
Bottom line:
Taking some care to think about how to store your produce can extend the life of your food and prevent food waste, as well as ensure that when you decide to use it, they will taste as good as fresh!
For more information on how to store food, find in season produce, or find ideas for how to use your produce before it goes bad, visit Canadian Food Focus! Having an idea about how to use your produce before it has a chance to go bad is a great way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your dollar.