Best ways to keep produce fresh? Tips and tricks

I’ve been using the Debbie Meyer green bags for years for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc but I wrap my celery and lettuce in foil and it keeps for weeks.  

Someone told me to put my lettuce in a huge baggie with a paper towel in the fridge. I was shocked at how long it lasted!

Here is what I do:

Lettuce - cut and use a salad spinner to wash and dry. I store the lettuce in it and spin daily. I have never had it last more than 4 days. I add lemon juice to the water and rinse off. Helps with rust. Best to use a plastic knife or break with your hands. Metal knife will cause rust.

Lettuce part deux - break off leaves for bib, red leaf or romaine, add to salad spinner, soak, spin and kay flat between layers of paper toweling and store in ziplock bag. Squeeze all air out.

Carrots - cut into sticks and store in water.

Celery - sticks and store in water

Radishes - wash and slice some while other are whole. Cut as needed. I store in glass container with piece of paper towels on bottom.

Berries - soak in vinegar water, spin dry, lay on paper towel to air dry, store in glass containers with no lid.

Watermelon - slice and store in glass container with lid.

I do prep onion in slices and chopped. I look at the recipes for the week to see what slice and how much I need.

Spinach - wash as needed. I lay a piece of paper toweling on top of bunch in container. I noticed it went bad if all washed. It is dry in that store container so I don't mess with it.

Asparagus is store upright in a cup with a bit of water.

Also soaking greens, carrots, and celery in ice water will crisp them back up.

Have a loose meal plan before you go.

Or do what they do in France and on that cooking school show where they go to the market, look at what looks good, and make a meal from it. Then plan other meals based on the left over ingredients.

Yes, it kills the spores on the fruit. I have berries a week old and are still good. Blueberries and strawberries.

I just saw something on insta today about storing berries in mason jars and they last a long time. I have no idea if this is true.

I use paper towels for any clamshell
Container of spinach or lettuce and it helps it last many days longer. I will also change them out and put in fresh ones. My other “tip” is just planning to use it and keeping it in view the fridge so I remember to use it.

Always use a plastic knife to cut lettuce!! Not metal! I actually pull lettuce apart.

Lettuce hit the stem on the counter, pull it out. Run water through the head of lettuce stories it open end down in container, raised if possible or in container sitting on paper towels, change when wet. I have had lettuce last for well over a week up to two weeks.

Bananas can be frozen. I peel, cut across in half. Put them 4 halves to a baggie, placing numerous bags in a freezer bag. They will get a bit light brown, cut can be cut to use in many ways. They are also a quick slightly frozen sweet snack cut in slices. They are good for weeks but do get a bit more dark.

Check your frozen berries, they often cost less then fresh.

All dependent on how you are going to use they.

I have yet to find a way to keep tomatoes fresh longer..

I put strawberries and raspberries in mason jars, unwashed. They will stay fresh in the jars for around 10-14 days. I was amazed when I tried it.

Bananas stay firm and good in the fridge for about a week. The peel will turn brown but the fruit inside is just fine.

Thank you. You've just settled a long-running debate in my household.

You can freeze melons, but you must eat them while they are partially frozen, otherwise they are mushy.