Many people like to grow fruits in their garden to have access to fresh produce throughout the year. But the problem arises when one has to store seasonal fruits and vegetables for long. If you do not know how to preserve an item, it might waste. Then, some people purchase bulk produce from local farmers to avoid going to the supermarket every other day. They, too, might struggle with storing the food for future use. Continue reading this article to learn more about increasing the shelf life of fruits and veggies to enjoy them longer than usual.
Make Sauce: If you have lots of tomatoes in your garden and think you cannot eat them before they get spoiled, you can turn them into thick Italian sauce and consume them over several months. If you are not confident about how the sauce will turn out, you can make a smaller batch of sauce. Once you have perfected the craft, you can make larger batches and store them in bottles.
Vacuum Seal The Veggies: One of the most fantastic ways to store the veggies is to pack them in a vacuum seal packaging. When the fruits are not in touch with the outside elements such as air, moisture, and heat, they last longer. If you store food in plastic containers and keep it in the fridge, it will stay fresh for a few days, but if you want better results, you most definitely should invest in purchasing a vacuum packaging machine that lets you seal food quickly.
- While vacuum-sealing veggies, make sure to label each bag with the storage dates. It will allow you to sort through the packages better for future use.
- Before vacuum sealing the produce, clean them with fresh water and dry them thoroughly. There are different settings of vacuum packaging for dry and wet items.
Keep Items Separated: If you are storing the veggies in cabinets or the pantry, be sure to separate the fruits from the vegetables. Apples, bananas, and other fruits produce ethylene gas that lets the vegetable ripen faster. Furthermore, store onions, potatoes, cauliflowers, cucumber separated from other vegetables. Some things should be kept on the countertop, while others are best kept in the refrigerator for longer shelf life.
Dehydrate Fruits: Removing moisture from fruits and vegetables is another way to preserve fruits and vegetables. You may buy food dehydrator and dehydrate the fruits for future use. Dehydrated fruits help make meal prep easier.
Remove The Tops: Fruits like carrots, beets, radish, and turnips extract moisture from the root. Therefore, if you plan to store them inside the fridge, be sure to cut the tops with a knife to retain the freshness of the veggies. You can use the veggie tops and leaves to make healthy drinks or add them to soups without wasting them.
Change Fruit Variant: If increasing shelf life is your prime concern, you may modify your purchase routine. For example, different berries contain the same nutritional value but have different tastes. You may purchase fruits and veggies that last longer to avoid wastage.
