Keeping Veggies Fresh

I think those green veggie bags that they have out is pretty good!try out and see if that works for you!then let me know please

Hi-

The trick with the green produce bags is to make sure things are DRY before putting them in the bags. When you unpack your groceries, leave your produce out to dry (break apart heads of lettuce, open any packaging, etc.), THEN place them in the green bags. If you have the time, you can even wash everything, lay things out to dry, then place them in the bags. That way your produce is ready to eat/cook when you need it.

Following this procedure, I have had luck with all kinds of greens, broccoli, asparagus, celery, peppers, carrots, zucchini, summer squash, even mushrooms.

If the produce is wet when placed in the bags (even just condensation from being in the refrigerated section of the produce dept.), it just gets slimy.

Also, remember, the hard squashes (butternut, acorn, spaghetti squash) stay fresh even when stored on the counter for the week! If you put them in the fridge, they will stay fresh for a couple of weeks.

Hope this helps.

K.

I am the same way! I hate shopping constantly. I use my crisper drawer for my salad stuff. Don't get the English Cucumbers if you want them to keep. I find that those go quicker than the regular ones with the thick skin. My tomatoes tend to keep for while in the fridge as well. Even though it's recommended for flavors sake to keep them out of the fridge I don't really care! Grape tomatoes stay tasty and you don't have to chop them! Just rinse and serve.

Lettuce usually stays pretty well if you keep it as dry as possible. I usually get the romaine lettuce and it seems to stay pretty well. I will sometimes put a paper towel in the bag or container to keep mosture off the lettuce. I always do this if I chop too much lettuce and have some left over. It always goes faster when I "prep" it before I am ready for it.

I have been trying to get my husband to buy me one of those food saver machines for years!!! While you would have to purchase the bags every so often I have been told that they are WONDERFUL for keeping veggies, cheese, and fruits longer. It's basically a vacuume sealer for the home.

When I buy berries I like to buy them in bulk (most of my shopping is done at Costco or Sam's Club). When they start to turn I will wash them and put them on a cookie sheet or a tray. Then I will freeze them. Once frozen I put them in a freezer bag and keep them in the freezer. I love doing this because I love frozen fruit as a snack. I do the same with my peppers and onions. I'll chop them, freeze them, and when I need them they are ready to go!

If your fresh stuff wilts by the end of the week you may want to think about shopping elsewhere for fruits and veggies. Either that, or like someone else said maybe your fridge is too warm??? I have had lettuce in my fridge for a week and a half and it's not even turned a little bit.

Good luck and Happy eating!

Green bags!!! I buy lots of organic veggies when they go on sale and save a ton of money.
I've had broccoli for 3 weeks and it still looks and tastes great.
Blueberries picked off the bush for 3 weeks
Strawberries from the grocery store for 2 weeks

Just make sure you get the condensation out of the bag every few days.

Buy the green plastic bags to keep your fruits and veggies in. Follow the instructions for best results. They are wonderful.

I have switched to buying no-salt-added frozen for peas, green beans, and broccoli, and mixed veggies. Frozen vegetables have more nutrients than non-local fresh. Fresh veggies start losing their nutritional value the moment they are harvested and frozen veggies are usually frozen within 24 hours. Don't refrigerate tomatoes--they gas they produce rots them.

I was given a Tupperware container as a gift and LOVE it!! They are designed for keeping produce fresh longer and it really works. They're called FridgeSmarts. We also have the green bags but the only thing we have has real luck with is Bananas.

Tupperware Fridge Smarts work wonderfully .. and the come in assorted sizes!!

I just use the glad or ziploc plastic containers. I will clean and cut up my brocolli, califlower, leaf lettuce, etc, shaking off as much water as possible. I then let it air dry for about 10 minutes, and place it in a ziploc container that has been lined with a few paper towels. It is amazing how crisp and fresh it stays. I will also do this with blueberries and grapes. They will stay good in the fridge for a week like this.

There is no issue in buying frozen veggies. On many occassions they are much better for you than fresh as they are frozen as soon as they are piked etc and retain much more nutriants than the fresh. We use the steamers alot in our house and they taste much nicer than the fresh.

It sounds like your refrigerator isn't cold enough for the fresh produce. Also, are you washing all your produce in the beginning of the week or when you serve them? That makes a difference. And are you keeping all produce in the fridge? Some fruits and veggies do not need to be refrigerated.

I would look at figuring if your fridge isn't cold enough, washing the produce too early, and refrigerating some produce that does not need to be refrigerated.

Good luck :)

I just recently bought the green bags and are amazed at how well they work. You can buy them at a natural food store for $10 or a flea market for $2. The only thing is to make sure the veggies are not wet. Other than that they are well worth the money and you can wash them and reuse them. I hope this helps.

I too use the Debbie Meyer green bags. I got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond - 70 bags (2 sizes - large & small) for $30. They are great. I re-use them and have shared them with my friends and family. They keep lettuce fresh for a LONG time (weeks and weeks) and everything else looks great too. Here's a link to BBB for fewer bags for only $10. I highly recommend them!

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&...

Don't know. We only go shopping once a paycheck. So we eat all the fresh stuff in the first week, then the second week we eat the frozen stuff. From what I've heard, they are just as good for you.

Wrap greens in paper towels. They really should be used within a few days. For mushrooms, put them in a paper bag as soon as you get home and they will not get slimy.

Beyond that, I've got nothing.