Learning how to correctly store your fresh produce will not only extend their lifespan but also retain the maximum amount of their vitamins and nutrients. Each fruit and vegetable is unique in its own right with differing flavours, colours and textures. Just as each piece is unique, so is their optimate storage method. 

An important thing to know when learning how to correctly store your fruits and vegetables is ethylene. That is the hormone emitted by produce as it ripens. You might have heard about putting a banana in a paper bag with some other produce you would like to ripen quickly. There is truth behind this and it is because bananas produce large amounts of ethylene! Different produce has different sensitivity to ethylene which can cause some produce to deteriorate more quickly. 

Rule 1. 

The first rule when storing your fruit and veggies is to store them separately! You might have noticed that your fridge has 2 crisper bins with adjustable humidity controls. One is designed for fruit and the other is designed for veggies. This separation actually has multiple benefits. Fruits emit much more ethylene than vegetables and can cause them to turn quicker. Have you ever heard the saying “one bad apple will spoil the barrel”? For this reason it is best to store your produce separately. Within this separation, you will also need to identify which produce belongs in the fridge or out at room temperature. 

Rule 2. 

Separate your fruit and veggies into those that like the cold, and those who don’t. An easy way to determine this is by identifying if your produce grew in the tropics or not. Bananas, pineapples, melons and mangoes are best stored out of the fridge in a fruit bowl at room temperature. Fruits such as apples, berries and oranges can be happily stored in the fridge. 

As for veggies, any hearty greens such as silverbeet keeps well in the fridge with the humidity set to high.  These veggies can be washed and wrapped in a damp paper towel for best storage. Delicate greens like baby spinach and lettuce however will turn soggy if the humidify is set too high. Store these in a dry paper towel to absorb any moisture. 

Herbs have different storage methods all together. Click here to check out our recent blog on how to correctly store fresh herbs. 

Are you ready to fill your fridge with delicious, farm fresh produce? Hillview Farms is dedicated to providing high-quality, fresh produce that is chem-free and locally sourced. Our door-to-door delivery ensures our produce goes direct from farm to table. 

Shop online now!