Monitoringclub.org – Vegetables are a healthy food ingredient and are rich in nutritional content. However, if you store it incorrectly, the vegetables will spoil quickly.
In order for the condition of vegetables to remain good, you must know how to store vegetables in the fridge so they last and stay fresh. Vegetables usually have a fairly high water content in them, so if you store them in the fridge for too long and don’t use the right method, they can cause the vegetables to rot and spoil quickly.
In order to avoid this, there are several ways how to store vegetables in the fridge that must be known. The goal is that the vegetables that have been purchased can last longer and the quality does not decrease because they are placed carelessly. Check out some ways to store vegetables in the refrigerator below:
How To Store Vegetables In The Fridge
1. Sort Vegetables before Storing
How to store vegetables in the fridge so that it lasts is to sort out the vegetables you buy. If you find a part that is damaged or starts to turn yellow, cut it immediately and separate it from the vegetables that are still good.
Damaged parts can spread to other areas, so the finished vegetable rots quickly. In addition, it is also necessary to separate vegetables with fruits. The content of ethylene substances in the fruit can accelerate the ripeness of the surrounding vegetables. (Read More: 6+ Best Way To Store Vegetables and Fruits [With or Without Fridge])
This is what makes vegetables spoil or rot faster.
2. Wash clean and dry before storage
The way how to store vegetables in the fridge so that they last longer is to wash them first. When you finish shopping for vegetables, it’s a good idea to wash every part of it immediately using running water.
Even better if the vegetables are washed with antibacterial soap. This is done so that all the bacteria in the vegetables quickly die.
It should be noted that bacteria is one of the factors causing spoilage in vegetables. After washing the vegetables, dry them with a cloth and put them in the refrigerator.
3. Fruits and Vegetables Must Be Separated
If you often shop for vegetables and fruits at the same time, it’s better to separate the two when they’ve been put in the refrigerator. This is because fruits produce ethylene, which makes other foods ripen quickly.
In this case, vegetables will quickly spoil when mixed with fruits because of the ethylene substance. Therefore, always separate vegetables and fruits when they are put together in the refrigerator.
If necessary, use a different plastic when placing fruit and vegetables so they don’t come into contact in the refrigerator.
4. Try not to cut it first
Try to store vegetables in the refrigerator in whole form. Some vegetables or fruits may blacken or oxidize after cutting and putting in the refrigerator.
When cutting them first, vegetables and fruits stored in the refrigerator dry and rot faster. When storing vegetables need to cut only the root part to make it cleaner. If forced to store cut vegetables, place the container in the freezer area.
5. Wrap with Perforated Paper or Plastic
The next way How to store vegetables in the fridge, use plastic or paper to wrap them. The paper will prevent the temperature of the refrigerator from absorbing into the vegetables while perforated plastic will give access to airflow.
The reason is, vegetables still need oxygen to survive in the refrigerator. For the record, especially for storing mushrooms, avoid wrapping them in plastic.
6. Always Check Refrigerator Temperature
The next way how to store vegetables in the fridge so that they stay fresh and last longer is to always check the refrigerator temperature. This part is necessary because the proper temperature for storing vegetables is 1-4 degrees Celsius.
If the temperature is much higher, the bacteria will easily multiply and make the vegetable smell very unpleasant. Therefore, it would be better if you check the refrigerator temperature regularly so that the quality of the vegetables is maintained.
7. Arrange Vegetables According to Each Type
In general, refrigerators have three to four shelves for storage of goods. Try using each shelf to store vegetables by type.
For example, on the bottom shelf to store green leafy vegetables such as mustard greens, kale, and spinach. This is because the lower shelf has a temperature that tends to be stable, so it is very safe for vegetables that are very perishable.
Then in the middle, you can store vegetables with low water content such as beans, beans, cabbage, carrots, and others. On the top shelf, you can store vegetables with high water content such as peppers, cucumbers, chilies, eggplants, and the like.
Storing vegetables according to their type will make it easier to check every day. This will keep the quality of vegetables fresh and maintained in the long run.
8. Not All Vegetables Can Be Stored in the Refrigerator
Please note that not all vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator. For example, tomatoes cannot be stored in cold weather. Because, it can inhibit the ripening process of the tomatoes themselves.
If you want to put the tomatoes in the refrigerator, they must be separated from the cucumbers. This is because the gas in the tomatoes can make the cucumbers rot faster. Then, there are still basil leaves which also cannot be stored in the refrigerator.
When basil leaves are exposed to cold air it makes this plant easily wither and not fresh. It’s better to store basil leaves outside the refrigerator. Finally, there are also potatoes, which should also be stored in a dark and cool place. That way, the starch in potatoes is maintained.
