How To Wash Produce And Maintain Freshness

This is the time of year I love. Finding an abundance of fresh produce at the market. However, you may be intimitaded by purchasing too much produce because it goes bad so quickly. But if you will prep it properly, it will last longer.

Strawberries are rich in vitamin C,  and support prostate health and healthy breast tissue. So it's important for long term health to eat a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent heart disease,  high blood pressure, and some cancers. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals that make you healthy and keep you feeling energized.

As far as consuming fruits and veggies, fruits with a softer skin such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries need to be eaten sooner.

Produce with thicker skin such as apples, avacados, celery, melons, bell peppers and radishes can all be washed and stored.

Greens and lettuce can be washed and stored with a damp paper towel and will prolong freshness.

Here's how:

Use Apple Cider Vinegar (Any brand will work. This is what I had on hand)

• dilute 1 TBSP. Apple Cider Vinger in 1 cup of water, stir well.

(I had lots of strawberries so I used 8 cups water. Just make sure there are equal parts of vinegar and water)
• add produce

• let soak 5 minutes
• remove the produce and rinse well in cool water

• Once your produce is thoroughly rinsed, let dry.
(I place mine on paper towels and let air dry)

I repeated this process for blueberries.

For Larger Produce:

Larger produce with thicker skin such as melons, potatoes, celery and avacados can be washed with the same mixture, just put in a clean spray bottle.
Spray the produce, and using a clean bristle brush (only used for produce), gently scrub the skin of the fruit/vegetable.

Rinse thoroughly, and pat dry.

• Berries and apples can be dried by hand.
(Although I let berries dry on a paper towel and then finish drying by hand if time is an issue).

• Peaches and tomatoes are better letting them air dry.

Here are some guidelines:

 How To Keep Fruits and Vegetables Fresher Longer:

Air Tight Container or Plastic Bag In The Fridge:

• bell pepper
• broccoli
• cabbage
• carrots
• cherries
• cucumber
• radishes
• spinach

Ventilated Containers or Plastic Bag In The Fridge:

• berries
• greens
• lettuce
•eggplant
• snap peas
• mushrooms

Ventilated On The Counter:

• avacados
• bananas
• mango
• melon
• tomatoes

A variety of pesticides are used on crops so its vital to properly clean produce before consuming it.

Just look at the residue of dirt left behind. Yuck.

You can get the recommended dietary guidelines at the following link:

Healthy Dietary Guidelines For Americans

Here's to your health.

In warmth,
Anna