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Although we all want to keep our kitchens stocked with the freshest produce all year round, it can be difficult to maintain as certain foods fall below their best standards very quickly. There are however, things that can be done to extend the life of your fruits and vegetables, allowing you to cut down on costs as well as waste. We’ve got just five ways that you can do this right here:

fruits cut open after being protected by shrink wrap packaging

Temperature

Knowing the correct way to store individual foods can help you to expand their lives, particularly if you are aware of the optimum temperatures in which they should be kept. For example, bananas should not be kept in the fridge, as this will make them brown quicker. Whilst for softer fruits such as tomatoes and cucumbers, the cool atmosphere is the best place for them, keeping them fresh and crunchy for a lengthier period of time.

Storage

Some foods are best kept in airtight containers, or in the shrink wrap packaging in which you bought them. This means that there is less chance of the oxygen seeping in and spoiling the foods more quickly. While other fruits and vegetables need the oxygen to keep them fresh. Vegetables such as onions need to be kept dry to give them a long life, therefore they should be kept out of the fridge in a bowl to avoid coming into contact with any liquids or condensation in the plastic packaging. You should also note that bananas release gases that ripen fruits, so pair them in a bowl with avocados to ripen them quicker!

Freezer power

The freezer is often underestimated in terms of keeping foods fresh. Although some foods will not fare well in the icy conditions, others will hold their freshness for a very long time. Herbs in particular store very well frozen, as do peas and berries. This is perfect for any foraging you do during the year, as freezing them will make them last out of season to be used later for crumbles and preserves!

Cooking

When fruits or vegetables have passed their freshest point, but still have some life in them, you can make them into soups or pies! This saves on waste, is budget friendly and super easy! You can even freeze your soups to use at a later date if necessary.

Store away from sunlight

Although they need sunlight to grow in the first place, most fruits and vegetables do not cope well in the sunlight once picked; potatoes will turn green (and should not be eaten), and others will turn soft. So store them away from sunlight, whether in the cupboard, larder or fridge. This will make their lives longer and keep them fresher