Reduce Food Waste with These Clever Tips that Keep Fruit Fresh for Longer
Food waste is a huge problem around the world. And it makes climate change worse, because rotting fruit emits greenhouse gases. So it makes sense – and saves you money – to keep fruit fresh for longer so you can eat and enjoy all of the fruit you buy.
Follow these 4 great tips to keep fruit fresh for longer.
Refrigerate Fresh Fruit – Or Not?
Some fruits belong in the fridge – but others do not.
Cherries, strawberries, grapes, cut watermelon and citrus only ripen while they’re still attached to the plant. So you should store them in the refrigerator as soon as you bring them home.
(An exception is apples – keep them in the fridge so they stay fresh and crunchy).
But many fruits continue to ripen after harvest – and so you should store them at room temperature. Avocados, bananas, mangoes, pears, stone fruit and even tomatoes are good examples.
Then, once they’re nicely ripe, you can refrigerate them to slow down further ripening and get a few extra days out of them.
Use The Fridge Properly
Always store your fresh fruit in the crisper or dewbin, because it’s designed to have higher humidity than the rest of the fridge.
And keep it in its original packaging, or store in a reusable container to stop them drying out.
(Did you know that your fridge dehydrates everything because it’s constantly circulating air?)
But some veggies – including broccoli, kale, leafy greens, snow peas and soft-leaf herbs – need a “breathing hole”. Cover them in a wet tea towel or tie up a plastic bag then poke a finger through to create a small air hole.
The exception is ginger, which stores best uncovered in the fridge to prevent moisture build-up that can lead to mould.
If you’re freezing fruit that’s about to go off, write the number of days left before its use-by date on the pack. So you’ll know exactly how much time you have to use it after defrosting it.
Don’t Use Deep Fruit Bowls
Fruit bowls on a table or counter always look inviting! But deep fruit bowls trap ethylene – a natural gas emitted by ripening fruit. It speeds up ripening in nearby fruits, so everything suddenly gets ripe quickly.
Instead, use several flat fruit plates placed at least an arm’s length apart, which allow more airflow. Your fresh fruit will stay fresh longer.
Buy in Boxes
Make sure your fruit arrives home in the best possible shape by asking for a cardboard box rather than a plastic bag at the store. They’re usually free, and they protect your fruit and veg from being squashed and bruised, which shortens their lifespan.
These 4 tips keep fruit fresh for longer – and it’s better for the climate, and your purse!
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