Storing fruits at room temperature or refrigerator
Fruits
Apples – I select apples that are firm and not bruised. They must look bright or shiny. I store them in the refrigerator and they last for 2-3 weeks.
Apricots – I store them in the refrigerator and they last for up to 3 weeks, but I prefer to eat them within 2 weeks for a fresher taste.
Bananas – I buy the bananas while they are still green in order to prolong their life. I separate them from each other too.
Cantaloupe – I keep them at room temperature for no more than 2 days. If the weather is hot and you keep them at room temperature for more than 2 days, they will spoil very quickly. To preserve them longer, I will refrigerate in a plastic bag for maybe 1-2 days depending on how ripe it is. I cut it into bite sized pieces and place them in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator, so they are ready to eat as needed. Cantaloupe pieces, watermelon, and grapes are great together as part of a continental breakfast. Cantaloupe juice in the summer time is delicious. I will post the recipe soon.
Grapefruit – I like to store them in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. You can also leave them at room temperature. They generally last 2-3 days. I love the juice, my Mom always said it helps lose weight.
Grapes – Green, black and red. I keep them in the refrigerator unwashed. I will generally consume them within 1-3 days. I also wash them and place in a plastic sealed container or a plastic Ziploc bag, so they are ready to take with me anywhere as a snack. Be sure to drain them and dry them, so they will not spoil.
Kiwi Fruit – At room temperature they generally last up to 5 days or so. When I buy them, I make sure that they are hard. They will soften relatively quickly, so I don’t buy any more than a week’s supply at one time. Sometimes if they are ripe I will store them in the refrigerator, cut in half and peeled, ready to add them to our power fruit and vegetable smoothie we make every morning. I will post the recipe for this smoothie soon so be sure to come back and check it out.
Washing fruits and veggies
Vinegar – I use vinegar and salt to wash the following vegetables. I mix the vinegar & salt with water. Generally, about 1 cup of vinegar and 1 tea spoon of salt per 4-6 cups of water.
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
Note: For grapes I only use vinegar and water, but NO Salt.
Avocados – a fruit or vegetable? You decide. I use it as vegetable in most of my recipes.
I hope these tips are helpful and I will be adding more soon.
