Making fruit and veggies last

With a bit of care and planning, making fruits and veggies last longer reducing the wastage and even saving money.

Potatoes generally have a shelf life of two weeks Store them in a paper bag, in a cool dark spot, such as a pantry. Keep them away from onions and apples as they give off a ethylene gas, which can make your spuds begin to sprout. Removing any sprouts that shoot out of the potato’s skin before consuming, they won’t hurt you.

When buying whole fresh carrots, look for fresh looking, no spots, no film on them. You can wrap them in damp paper towel and place in the crisper and they will last for ages, just check your paper towel doesn’t dry out, or if you have a swag bag, place them in there. Carrots can also be cut into sticks and stored in containers with water, they will last at least a week. It also makes them an easy healthy snack option.

Keep your citrus in the fridge, especially if you live in a warmer climate. They will last a couple of months like this. Any cut citrus can be covered with beeswax wrap. Even if your citrus has gone soft, it’s still great for juicing. If you have a lot hat are nearly past their use bye date, squeeze the juice in to ice cube containers and freeze, then place them into zip locks and you have instant juice.

Onions can last a long time if they are kept in the fridge, wrap them in some recycled paper or brown paper bags. Of course if fridge space is at a premium, you can also find a dark, cool, well-ventilated cupboard placing them in a cardboard box.

Eat any bruised or cut apples first; these can ruin your entire batch. Apples stored in the refrigerator can last 3-4 weeks. For long-term storage wrap each apple individually in paper or a brown paper bags and store in single layers. These can be put in a dark cool place. This can be time consuming, but if you were given a box of apples it’s a good way to make them last. Or think about freezing them or making apple sauce or apple pies.

Pumpkin has a great shelf life when you keep it whole, and will last anywhere from a month to three months on the bench or in a cool dark place. Once it has been cut open, be sure to keep it in the fridge and cover the exposed edge with a beeswax wrap. There are so many uses for pumpkin.

Whole garlic has a protective outer layer, preventing it from spoiling over time. If you leave the whole bulb uncut, it can last 6 months before starting to go bad. Keep it in a cool place, out of direct sunlight to prevent the bulb from sprouting such as a wire-mesh basket or open paper bag in a cupboard or pantry.
Separate cloves can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge but beware the cold will promote sprouting.

Beetroots unpeeled can last several months when placed in a cool, dark space or in a crisper. If you have bought a bunch or grown them, remove the beet tops to prevent them from shriveling. Just ensure you leave about 1 cm of the stem to prevent the juices from bleeding out prematurely.

Cabbage lasts for ages. It’s great for stir-fries or salads. Don’t wash the leaves until you’re ready to use it and keep it in a crisper draw. Slice off the edge of the cabbage when it has been cut, removing the browned bits.

Celery needs to be prepared as soon as you get it home, chop into lengths and store in glass container, cover with water and it will store for at least a week in the fridge. If your celery is still a little bit limp after this its still great for the base of a stew, Bolognese, bone broth or curry. Keep the leaves and freeze until you’re ready to use them.

Most capsicums last for a while in your fridge, but green ones tend to last the longest, this is because they contain less sugar. Store capsicums in a swag bag or paper bag in the refrigerator crisper and they can last up to three weeks.

If you store your sweet potatoes in a cool dark spot in your pantry or cupboard, you can expect them to last up to a month. Keep them in a loose bag or box to allow for optimal circulation and freshness.

Hopefully some these tips with help with making fruit and veggies last and even same you some money!