Why You Should Keep Your Fruits & Vegetables Separated

It happens far too often; we buy food at the grocery store and we have to throw it away before it gets eaten. Not only is it wasteful, it's costly – researchers estimate that up to 40% of the food that we buy actually ends up in the trash, not our stomachs.

One of the hardest foods to keep fresh is produce, whether it be fruits or vegetables. Even under proper conditions, fresh produce doesn't have a very long shelf life, and if you store it the wrong way it could spoil in just a few days.

What is the easiest way to extend the lifespan of your fruits and vegetables? By keeping them separated!

Most refrigerators have two produce drawers; take the hint and use them both. Why? The answer is quite simple: as they ripen, most fruits produce a gas called ethylene. Many vegetables, on the other hands, are sensitive to ethylene, and exposure to it causes premature rotting, spotting, and softening of the texture.

This list will help you understand which foods you should keep separated.

 

Ethylene-Producing:

• Apples
• Avocados
• Bananas (Ripened)
• Kiwi
• Melons
• Peaches
• Pears
• Tomatoes

Ethylene-Sensitive:

• Bananas (Unripened)
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Green Beans
• Leafy Greens
• Peas
• Peppers
• Squash
• Watermelons

Basically, with the exception of watermelons and unripened bananas, the list is perfectly divided into fruits and vegetables.

Is your refrigerated food still spoiling quickly, even though you are storing it correctly? A warm refrigerator may be to blame. If you suspect that your refrigerator is malfunctioning, call the experts at Speedy Subzero. For more than 75 years, Long Island residents have trusted us to keep their refrigerators, freezers, and ice makers running properly. We guarantee one-hour service to Nassau and Suffolk counties, so call us today at 866-782-9376.