There’s nothing worse than looking forward to Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette for dinner — only to learn that your greens are wilted, your cucumber is slimy and your avocados are brown.
While you can’t delay spoiling indefinitely, storing your produce the right way can help extend its shelf life as much as possible, so your produce is fresh and delicious when you need it. Here’s how to store your favorite veggies — plus, delicious recipes to use ‘em up.
How to store potatoes
Potatoes store best in a cool, dry place with airflow, such as in a basket in your pantry. Avoid storing them in the fridge — it can change their flavour and texture — or in an airtight container that speeds up their spoilage.
The best potato recipes:
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Accordion Potatoes
- Potato Pie
- Taco Potatoes
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Corn and Potato Chowder
- Potato and Bean Salad
How to store cucumbers
Cucumbers need refrigeration to stay crisp — but you don’t want to store ‘em in the crisper. The crisper is usually packed with other produce, many of which can release compounds that cause cucumbers to spoil quicker.
Instead, wrap your cukes in a paper towel to absorb excess moisture — which also speeds up spoilage — and place them in airtight bags to keep airflow out. Using this method, your cucumber scan stay fresh for over two weeks.
The best cucumber recipes:
How to store mushrooms
Excess moisture leads to mushy mushrooms, so use storage methods that keep them dry. Store them in the brown paper bag they came in, or in a container that allows for good airflow. Avoid plastic bags or other airtight containers that can build up condensation over time.
The best mushroom recipes:
- Hearty Barley and Mushroom Soup
- Bacon and Mushroom Mac and Cheese
- Curried Mushroom and Spinach Quesadillas
- Mushroom Confit Bahn Mi
- Bruschetta-Topped Mushroom Steaks
How to store lettuce
Leafy greens are the goldilocks of the produce aisle. Add too much moisture, and they’ll wilt asap; too little humidity and they’ll dry out. But storing rinsed and dried lettuce in the crisper, wrapped in a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture, is juuuust right.
The best lettuce recipes:
How to store broccoli
As a hardy cooler-weather vegetable, broccoli is fairly low-maintenance. Simply store it in a plastic bag — or another airtight container — in your crisper drawer so it doesn’t lose moisture.
The best broccoli recipes:
- Pepper Broccoli Fusilli
- Chicken and Broccoli Cheddar Bake
- Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Chicken and Broccoli in Peanut Sauce
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with Beef Curry
How to store cauliflower
Like broccoli, cauliflower is a relatively hardy veggie. But unlike broccoli, it does best with a little airflow. Store it in a perforated bag in your crisper to keep it crisp and fresh.
The best cauliflower recipes:
- Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Mushrooms and Onions
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower with Tomatoes
- General Tso Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Cheese Soup
How to store rhubarb
Rhubarb stalks can wilt quickly without humidity and moisture, so you’ll need to add both to store them properly. Wrap the stalks in a damp paper towel, then store in a freezer bag in the crisper to add humidity.
