Properly storing fresh produce is essential for maintaining its flavor, texture, and nutritional value while reducing waste. Different fruits and vegetables require specific storage methods, whether in the refrigerator, pantry, or on the countertop. Understanding the best ways to store your produce can help extend its shelf life and keep your ingredients fresher for longer. Below, are essential tips on how to keep your produce at its best, from ideal temperature settings to proper storage containers.

General Rules of Thumb

• Fridges should be set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below
• Always refrigerate cut or peeled produce
• Once home, remove any leafy tops to avoid them from pulling moisture from the produce

Pantry Produce

These items are best kept in a place that is cool and dark, like a pantry:

• Garlic, Onions, Shallots
• Hard Squash (Winter, Acorn, Spaghetti, Butternut)
• Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoes and Yams
• Watermelon (once cut, it should be refrigerated, as mentioned above)

Countertop Produce

These items should be stored loose and away from sunlight, heat and moisture:

• Bananas
• Tomatoes

You can also ripen the following fruits by placing them in a paper bag on your counter and then placing in your refrigerator to last a few additional days:

• Avocados
• Apricots
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Plums

Refrigerator Produce

• Apples and Pears
• Beets and Turnips, with green tops removed and stored loose in crisper
• Berries, Cherries and Grapes should be dried and placed in covered containers or plastic bags
• Broccoli and Cauliflower
• Carrots and Parsnips with green tops removed
• Celery
• Corn, stored in their husks
• Cucumbers, Eggplants and Peppers stored on an upper shelf, as it is a slightly warmer area of the refrigerator
• Fresh Herbs, except for Basil
• Green Beans
• Lettuce and Leafy Greens that have been washed, spun or pat-dried and wrapped loosely in a dish or paper towel, place in a plastic bag to keep the stems moist. Place it in the vegetable drawer.
• Cut Melon
• Mushrooms unwashed and as dry as possible in a storage container or paper bag
• Peas
• Zucchini and Yellow Squash
• Citrus
• Lemons
• Limes
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• These can all additionally be stored on the countertop loose and away from sunlight, heat and moisture.