We love healthy eating here at Forgey, and fall is abundant with tasty foods. Sometimes we get a little too excited at the local farmers market, only to arrive back home and wonder how we can enjoy all of our produce picks before they spoil. If you can identify, follow these tips to keep your foods fresher, longer, so you can feast on all of autumn’s bounty.
Wait to Wash
You should always wash your veggies and fruits before eating them, but washing as soon as you bring them home can actually quicken spoiling. The added moisture is no good for fresh produce, so store your fruits and veggies dry and give them a good wash just before eating.
Separate Your Pears and Apples
Nothing says fall like a crisp, juicy apple, but keep your apples and pears away from other fruits and vegetables. Pears and apples give off ethylene gas as they ripen, which can cause other produce, like onions, bananas or potatoes, to ripen faster.
Trim Root Veggies
Root vegetables can last a bit longer with some attention before storing. Simply separate the roots from the greens before storing roots in a dry, cool place out of the sun. If you want to save your greens, snip them off, wrap them up in a paper towel and keep them in a plastic bag in your fridge.
Get Creative
If your bounty is simply too big to enjoy at once, get creative with how you store and use vegetables and fruits. Blanch and freeze veggies to use later, save up turnip greens and carrot tops to incorporate into a veggie broth, make your own jam to enjoy autumn’s sweetness throughout winter or make soups now to freeze and defrost when you need a warm boost next month.
Following these tips can help you enjoy autumn’s harvest longer and increase your well-being by eating a healthy, balanced diet.
