The Frigidaire Swampland

Keep Produce Fresh!
If the thought of cleaning out your produce drawer conjures up horrific images and procrastination, then you need to rethink what you’re keeping in that murky drawer of decay. It’s true that most of us would rather do just about anything than tackle the slimy collection of runny produce bags and unidentifiable withered fruit. But there are ways to make it better.

First, let’s understand the process behind this dilemma. Most fruits and vegetables give off ethylene gas as they ripen. Although, refrigeration will actually help prolong the life of the produce, it serves as a trap for these gasses. Keeping the produce dry is the key to a longer “drawer” life.

Nothing’s foolproof but Relish! offers you some simple ways to prolong the life of expensive herbs, fruit and vegetables.

• Buy produce in good condition. If it’s shriveled and brown, you better eat it on the way home from the store because it won’t make it through the day.

• Wash greens and dry them carefully. Wrap in dry paper towel and store in zip-top vegetable bags. It’s ok if large stalks don’t fit all of the way in the bag as long as they’re covered with the paper towel.

• Line a drawer with a paper towel.

• Store tomatoes stem down in the drawer on the paper towel.

• To keep fresh herbs longer, they should be stored in a paper towel and then placed in a paper bag with a few vents to keep the light out. If they come in a plastic container, put that in the paper bag.

• Zip-top vegetable bags and vented paper bags work pretty well, however, many avid gardeners use specialized produce bags. You can find a wide variety of bags at www.reusablebags.com

Saving the fruits of our labor is important and nothing can kill a grocery budget like wasted produce. It makes no difference how tony and cool that new shiny fridge is on the outside…if the slime drawer is lurking within.

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Relish! offers delicious, affordable menus and meals, along with “real life” information designed to foster good, healthy eating habits and relaxing moments around the dinner table. Meal planning made easy, visit www.relishrelish.com.