There are few things worse than biting into an old piece of fruit! Sometimes the fruit or vegetable will look ‘ok’ from the outside, but end up being mushy or brown on the inside. When we store fruits and vegetables properly, fruits and vegetables stay fresh for longer periods of time.
We like putting our fruits and vegetables into 5 groups when talking about storing tips. For example all fruits in Group 1 (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, etc.) can be stored either inside or outside of the refrigerator, but will last longer if placed in the refrigerator.
Learn more tips by looking at our handout below!
Even when we store our fruits and vegetables as best as we can, sometimes they still go bad. If you notice your fruit or vegetable turning soft and mushy, try some of these clever ideas.
Dried chips! Beets, potatoes, squash, and eggplant are great candidates for a baked oven “chip.” We love Beet Chips.
Pasta sauce! Jazz up your tomato sauce with sliced mushrooms, spinach shreds, sliced tomatoes, and so much more. Top on Spaghetti Squash or pasta of choice.
Muffins, waffles, and pancakes! Fix your sweet tooth with a hint of fruit in your favorite baked goods. Here’s a recipe for Banana Bread Waffles.
Dried fruit leather! Making your own fruit leather is quite simple – it just takes some patience while the leather dries in the oven! You can make this recipe with a variety of fruits – apples, strawberries, peaches, apricots, pears, etc. Check out our recipe for Apricot Fruit Leather here.
Happy creating!