I had a problem with my cucumbers going bad faster than I thought they should but I wasn't sure why. They started smelling like they were being pickled, when saved in a container and sliced ready for my next snack. I wrap everything in romaine lettuce, if possible. It was soggy not crispy. I was having problems and had seen different shows on things like this but not exactly. I eat all fruit, salads and veggies. They are expensive and need to last until the next shopping day.
I decided to put a folded paper towel under the cucumber slices. It helped absorb the extra moisture from slicing them ahead of time. It worked so I did it with the lettuce also. I washed it and wrapped paper towels around it. I put in the fridge and it stayed crispy and fresh.
With celery, tomatoes and peppers, put a sponge in with them. It absorbs the moisture. You can put it in the crisper. Put two in if larger or packed (like mine). When needed, rinse and put in microwave for 2 minutes. This kills all bacteria. Then put them back in.
With fruit it is not the same. I wash it before storing. After washing, use paper towels to absorb any dampness left. Also use micro fiber cloth, they stay fresh much longer. If my fruit starts to go bad, I just put it the the freezer until I'm ready to eat it. Now I enjoy eating an organic, crispy and fresh tasting diet.
Source: Trial and error. I used an idea and just made a twist, and it worked. I had seen sponges stored with in dry things so I tried it on damp ones with the same outcome. Make sure you kill germs after each week, so no mold grows.
By Luana M. from San Diego, CA
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Recently I read the posts on cleaning refrigerators with vinegar and water. I did that and now my veggies are not staying fresh for longer than a couple of days. Can someone tell me how to solve this problem?
You may have to wash the frig again not using vinegar. The problem may be that acetic acid is made from vinegar.
Check to see if you bumped the thermostat controls when you cleaned. Check that the settings are where they were/need to be.
You probably knocked the humidity settings. Veggies need to be on high and fruits on low. If you have it wrong they won't keep.
When I buy fresh cauliflower, it seems to discolor fairly quickly (appears to spoil more quickly than say broccoli). If cauliflower is used in a salad with a dressing that coats it, would it "last" longer? How long would it be "good" if refrigerated?
By Frances P.
Go to stilltasty.com
It will tell you the shelf, fridge, and freezer life of all products. You can find all produce items and how long they will last under all circumstances.
