“Eat your vegetables!” The mantra of healthy eating is all around us. But how do you keep fresh vegetables around long enough to cook? Vegetables are alive. They continue breathing, or respiring, until they are cooked. The best way to keep them fresh is to slow down their respiration rate and avoid bruising. Keeping your vegetables fresh improves the nutritional value and flavor of your meals.
You can save money, have more fresh vegetables on hand, and take advantage of bulk produce by knowing the best possible conditions for storing at home.
Each of the following vegetable categories have preferred temperature and humidity conditions. You can be the master of your kitchen by helping your vegetables thrive and stay alive!
Practice
Experiment with one of the methods described in the handout with your fresh veggies this week.
Recipes
References
- “2012 Production Guide for Storage of Organic Fruits and Vegetables.” Cornell University Cooperative Extension. NYS IPM Publication No. 10. 2012.
- R Hadad. “Cold Storage Chart and Reference Guide.” Cornell Cooperative Extension. 2016.
