Make Your Produce Last

12:24 PM Jackie Mart 0 Comments

If you hate buying produce only to find that it’s gone bad before you’ve had a chance to enjoy it, employ some techniques to keep your food fresh as long as possible! 

• Join a CSA (check out Ploughshare Farm if you live in Minnesota) or shop at your local Farmer's Market. (Use Local Harvest to locate one near your area)  Produce usually gets picked the morning of and it's fresher so will last longer! Most store-bought produce is shipped across the country. 

• Store your sweet potatoes, garlic, and onions in a dark, cool place. 

• Delicate greens and celery should be eaten within a few days. Keep them in a bag until it’s time to wash them, and then wash them in cold water. You can do the same with other greens, like kale, but the heartier varieties will last a little longer in the refrigerator before you get around to eating them. 

• Uncooked asparagus will stay fresh for three to four days in the refrigerator. The secret is to keep the vegetable cool and damp. Store spears upright in a container with the stems wading in an inch of water, then cover loosely with a plastic bag.

• If produce is close to spoiling throw it in the freezer and use in your smoothies! CLICK HERE for my favorite smoothie recipes! 

(Tip: You can make smoothies ahead of time and freeze them! Just move one from freezer to fridge each night so you have one ready to go first thing in the morning. Just give it a stir!)

• Do not cut up produce until you are ready to eat them. They start losing nutrients after they are cut and will go bad sooner. 

• Also check out this video from DIY Gardening and Better Living: https://www.facebook.com/diygardeningbetterliving/videos/567830173391064/