How to Store Your Fruits and Vegetables

Learn how to keep your produce fresh for longer with Blain’s Farm & Fleet.

Fruits and vegetables are a staple to have in your kitchen, but it can be hard to know how to store them. One of the worst feelings is going to make a yummy meal you’ve had planned, and finding that your produce has already gone bad.

Fruits and vegetables all require different ways to be stored depending on the type. Some are best refrigerated, while others thrive on your countertop. And then there are those that prefer the dark, coolness of your pantry.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep something fresh after you’ve picked it from your garden or brought it home from the grocery store, Blain’s Farm & Fleet is here to help you learn the best ways to store your produce.

The first step to getting your fruits and veggies to last as long as possible is to make sure you start with fresh produce. If you’re growing them in your garden, be sure to not let them get overripe before picking. If you pick them too late, they’re more likely to go bad sooner.

If you’re buying your produce from a grocery store or farmer’s market, it’s important that you don’t just grab the first one you see. Instead, take the time to look through the fruits and vegetables and find ones that look just ripe enough. They shouldn’t be limp or have lots of spots or blemishes.

In the Refrigerator

Aside from a few exceptions, most vegetables should be refrigerated. Many fruits do better in the fridge, too.

Most produce that goes in the fridge will do better when sealed. You can keep them sealed in plastic bags, containers with tight lids, or the produce bags you get from the grocery store. Refrigerators can dry out your fruits and veggies, so storing them will help lock in moisture and keep them fresher longer.

Another way to ensure your fruits and vegetables last longer in the fridge is to make sure you’re keeping them in the produce drawers.

Vegetables that should be stored in the refrigerator:

• Asparagus
• All herbs
• All leafy greens
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Corn (with husks on)
• Peas
• Radishes

Fruits that should be stored in the refrigerator:

• Apples
• All berries
• All citrus fruits
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Pomegranate

On the Countertop

Select fruits and vegetables do better when kept at room temperature. Most often, people will put these ones in a bowl on their countertop.

Unlike the produce you keep in your fridge, produce you keep on your countertop should not be sealed in any sort of packaging or containers. Instead, these fruits and vegetables need air circulation. If you don’t let them breathe, they will go bad quickly.

Vegetables that should be stored on the countertop:

• Eggplant
• Green beans
• Tomatoes

Fruits that should be stored on the countertop:

• All melons
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Kiwis
• Mangoes
• Pineapples

In the Pantry

There are a few produce items that don’t prefer the fridge or the countertop. Instead, they like a dark, cool spot. A great place to keep them would be your pantry.

Produce that should be stored in the pantry:

• All squash
• Garlic
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes

On the Countertop, then in the Refrigerator

Then, there are certain fruits and veggies that do best when you keep them on your countertop until they get ripe, and then move them to your refrigerator to stay good for an extended period of time.

Produce that should be stored on the countertop, then in the refrigerator:

• Cucumbers
• Pears
• Stone fruits

Another thing to keep in mind when storing your produce is that some fruits, such as bananas and apples, release something called ethylene gas. This gas will cause other fruits and vegetables nearby to ripen quicker. To keep them from going bad, it’s best to store the rest of your produce in a separate bowl or drawer that’s not close to the ethylene-producing fruits.

Another good rule of thumb is to refrigerate any fruits or veggies after they’ve been cut. For example, whole watermelons and pineapples do better at room temperature. However, if you decide to dice them up, you’ll want to them keep them in a container in the fridge to stay fresh.

A great way to keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer is to freeze them. Depending on the type of produce, you can peel them, cut them up, and keep them in your freezer for months and months. This way, they are guaranteed to still be good by the time you’re ready to use them.

For more food preservation articles, or to learn how to can your food to stay fresh for a long time, visit our Canning Blog. For more kitchen articles in general, see our In the Kitchen Blog.