To extend the life of your fruits and veggies, follow these simple steps.
As a country girl from Idaho, I’ve never been too squeamish about perfect foods – expiration dates are just fun little suggestions, and a little dirt or a bug can just be flicked away. That said, there is nothing more frustrating than spending a small fortune on fruit for the week just to have it moldy in a day or two. Tired of spending my retirement on moldy berries, I’m now officially a total convert to washing my fruits and veggies in a vinegar or baking soda bath now.
Before you put your groceries away, prepare a bowl of water and a healthy pour of vinegar (I use white, but you can use any vinegar…although I’d steer clear of an aged vinegar like balsamic) or ¼ cup of baking soda. I use this one bowl to wash all of my fruits and veggies in a production line of washing. Let each fruit or veg soak in this solution for a minute or two, then rinse well, and let air dry a bit.
For berries, they stay fresh longer if placed in an airtight container. I’ve tried a few kinds and really like these containers (pictured above) for most berries. Raspberries are a little too delicate for deeper boxes, though, so I like to use a shallow container lined with a paper towel.
So…wash your fruit. Don’t believe me yet, take a look at how much grime I removed from a few boxes of berries:
