This year, organization is trending big—from a new streaming series about how to sort and beautify spaces in the home, to Instagram challenges focused on color-coding your closet, curated spaces are top of mind in 2020.
While my kitchen is generally in order, I’m excited to freshen up my refrigerator with these incredible fruit and vegetable preservation tips from Blisshaus to ensure my produce is as aesthetically pleasing and as it is fresh.
Produce Preservation Tips
According to the Blisshaus team, the secret is to know which produce needs moisture or a dry, dark space, and what specific temperature is best for each fruit or vegetable.
My refrigerator has exceptional temperature control capabilities with cool air flow technology (which evenly distributes cold air throughout all parts of the unit), and produce bins which keep my produce fresh, but these tips and tricks help me remember where to store each fruit and vegetable.
Storing Vegetables
Herbs: Keep herbs stored like fresh flowers in a “vegetable vase” in your refrigerator door. Basil is the only exception, which thrives in a vase on the counter in room temperature. I like to line my herbs up in a row and style them in glass jars.
Celery, Asparagus, Chard, Kale, Scallions, and Leeks: These vegetables need their “feet” in water too. I cut off the bottoms of the stems and place them in jars of water like I do with my herbs.
Carrots: Cut off any green fronds and submerge the carrot underwater in large jars. Scrub, peel, or cut the carrots into sticks so they’re ready for snacking.
Lettuce: Wrap whole heads of lettuce and loose leaves in a dry tea towel. If your lettuce is beginning to wilt, simply let it sit in your salad spinner submerged in cold water. Let sit for 10-15 minutes and remove, and your lettuce will perk right up!
Cucumbers: Wrap the whole cucumber in its own tea towel and store in your produce bins.
Broccoli and Cauliflower: Wrap broccoli and cauliflower in bees wax to trap moisture and place them in your refrigerator. If you can’t eat them within a few days, chop the heads into small florets and freeze for later!
Cabbage: Cabbage loves the cold—place your cabbage near the coldest part of your refrigerator and they’ll last a long time.
Mushrooms: Refrigerate in a cloth bag, or simply leave out on the counter—just be sure to keep them dry.
Potatoes, Squash, and Pumpkins: Keep these out of the refrigerator and store in a basket with good airflow. I like to keep mine in a dry, dark spot such as a cabinet. Fun fact: Add one apple to your potatoes to keep them from sprouting!
Storing Fruit
Mangoes and Tomatoes: Both do best living in a bowl on the counter—plus, they look really pretty together!
Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons, and Limes: I like to keep mine fresh in my produce bins.
Apples: Keep apples in a separate bin from your vegetables so they do not ripen everything around them. Fun fact: If you do want your tomatoes to ripen, nestle an apple near them.
Bananas: Store in their own separate bowl on the counter (or they’ll ripen everything around them!)
Produce preservation options are truly endless with my Thermador refrigeration unit, and Blisshaus provides even more tips for prolonging the life of my fruits and vegetables. For more exceptional preservation tips and tricks, visit Blisshaus on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/blisshaus/
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This blog was originally posted on the Thermador Blog, written by Stephanie Moore