Off the Urban Grid

Fruit and Veggie Preservation Tips

Preserving fruits and vegetables takes some forethought, because you can purchase fresh looking berries and cucumbers at the store and by day two they are rotting away. To combat this issue, some people choose to grocery shop every day or at least a few times a week to ensure that the food is fresh. However, not everyone has that luxury and who really wants to waste gas and drive to the market so often? Below are some tips to prevent store bought and even homegrown fruits and vegetables from rotting so early.

Mold likes to form where there is moisture and heat, which is why it’s best to stick as much as you can in the refrigerator. The back of the refrigerator is the coolest place or you might have designated crisper drawers that will keep the fruits and vegetables cool as a cucumber. In order to keep strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and other berries fresh, add a dry towel or two to the container so it collects the moisture. Storing bread in the refrigerator is beneficial too.

Another way to preserve produce is to plan meals ahead of time. This way you know what you can use, and you can plan to eat the vegetables that have been sitting for a while. If you’re going to make pasta sauce later in the week, you should freeze the whole tomatoes at the beginning of the week. Freezing fruits and vegetables immediately gives you more time to plan, and you can always use frozen berries in smoothies, ice cream and yogurt.

Last but not least is to just prepare foods that will keep for at least a week or two. For example, turn garbanzo beans into hummus and add some fresh red peppers to the dip. Or create a variety of berry jams, especially if everyone in the family prefers a different flavor of jelly. With lemons and limes, you can add them to salads, water, tea, etc.

Saving money on your food bill really just takes preparation and brainstorming. Since there is a limited window when it comes to fresh produce, it’s best to purchase just what you need and creating dishes around those foods.

Tags: food preserving tips, preserving fruits, preserving vegetables