Jan 13th, 2011 by Marilyn
Tip Thursday: To Refrigerate or Not To Refrigerate
To refrigerate or not to refrigerate, that is the question.
Refrigerating some fruits and vegetables will prohibit them from ripening properly and will effect their taste and texture. Follow this basic guide to get the most flavor and shelf life out of your produce.
Tips for storage:
- Do not store produce in direct sunlight
- Refrigerated fruits and vegetables should be kept in perforated bags in produce drawer
- Separate your fruits from vegetables. Fruits and vegetables both produce ethylene, an enzyme which is responsible for the ripening process of the produce. Fruits produce higher levels of ethylene causing accelerated ripening and decay of vegetables.
Store at Room Temperature
Fruits
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Vegetables
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Store in Refrigerator
Fruits
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Vegetables
|
|
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Ripen on the counter first, then store in refrigerator
- avocados
- kiwifruit
- nectarines
- peaches
- pears
- plums
Adapted from Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Better Taste
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I didn’t know that basil, cucumbers, lemons & limes should be stored at room temperature!
Comment by Annie on January 13, 2011 at 11:10 pm
I was a bit baffled by the cucumbers as well so I did a little research. You should eat your cucumbers within a day of purchasing for maximum flavor and freshness. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but must be eaten right away after removal. Also, a little tidbit I found regarding the phrase “cool as a cucumber” (from the University of Illinois Extension)- Growing in a field on a hot summer day, the interior flesh of a cucumber is 20 degrees cooler than the outside air temperature, thus “cool as a cucumber”.
Comment by Marilyn on January 14, 2011 at 12:09 am
Great tips! I usually put everything in the fridge.
Comment by RobinA2 on January 15, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Thanks for the information and education on this Marilyn, very interesting and I learned some things. I have always put bananas in the refrigerator
because then they do last longer. They look really bad when you do this because the skin turns brown but they are just as firm as everand flavor is fine. If your do have over ripened bananas take and peel them roll in sugar and wrap in foil and place in freezer for bread making days.
Comment by janette on January 18, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Great tip about the bananas! I usually put my almost over-ripe bananas in the freezer with peel on and what torture they are to peel frozen. Frozen bananas are great to save for making shakes as well.
Comment by Marilyn on January 18, 2011 at 5:08 pm