Storing Fruit and Vegetables: Tips For Proper Storage

The right storage for fruit and vegetables

If you store fruit and vegetables correctly, this can help to improve the shelf life of the individual products. But not every type of fruit and vegetable is stored in the same way. The existing humidity and temperature play an important role in storage. If stored incorrectly, vitamins can also be lost.

• Roughly speaking, you can use a rule of thumb for storage: fruit and vegetables that come from Germany can usually be stored in the refrigerator without any problems. These include, for example, carrots, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and leeks. Fruits such as pears, cherries, strawberries, or currants also tolerate cold.
• Fruit that you store in the fridge is best kept without a foil bag. This will prevent the fruit from drying out. You should keep the vegetables in the refrigerator at the bottom of the vegetable drawer.
• However, exotic vegetables such as zucchini, peppers, or tomatoes do not belong in the fridge. These vegetables are sensitive to cold. In the summer, however, storage in the refrigerator does not hurt.
• You can also store many types of fruit and vegetables in a cloth bag in a cool and dark place in the cellar or in the pantry. Especially potatoes and onions love this place. If potatoes get too much light, they produce solanine, which causes the tuber to turn green and sprouts to form more quickly. Onions, pears, and apples can also be stored for a long time in cool and dark places.
• Exotic fruits and vegetables that come from tropical regions can be stored well at room temperature. Orientate yourself to the climate zone of the country of origin. Fruit, such as mangoes or papayas, can experience a cold shock if stored too cold, and the consistency and taste of the fruit change.

You should pay attention to this

Proper storage is more important for some types of fruit and vegetables than for others. Some fruit and vegetables should not be stored in the refrigerator, but at temperatures between eight and 13 degrees.

• These include fruits such as grapefruits, pineapples, lemons, melons, and mangoes.
• Vegetables such as cucumbers, aubergines, garlic, tomatoes, or peppers are also included.
• Some types of fruit and vegetables produce the ripening gas ethylene and release it to nearby fruit or vegetables. As a result, it matures faster. Therefore, store peaches, tomatoes, apples, and pears separately from other fruits and vegetables.