Eating fresh fruits is a good way to incorporate vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre into your diet. Eating 2 cups of fresh fruits has benefits for your skin, digestion, weight management, and overall well-being. After buying fruits, it is important to wash and store your fruits properly. Selecting the freshest fruits is the first step to getting the longest storage life in your kitchen. Fresh Fruit Alliances brings you a few tips for washing and storing fresh fruits.
Wash with water and dry with a towel - Rinsing with water has been the traditional method of cleaning fruits before eating them. It is recommended to use cold flowing water to wash your fruits. This washes off any soil and germs along with pesticides and insecticides on the surface of fruits. You can also use a scrubbing brush to gently scrub fruits with thick skin. Drying your fruits after washing them with a clean dry towel or paper towel helps getting rid of any additional impurities left on the surface of fruits.
Fruits that need to ripen first on the counter - Fruit that should ripen on the counter are apricots, avocados, guava, kiwi, mangoes, melons, nectarines, papaya, peaches, bananas and plums. Once they are ripe, you can store them in the fridge.
Storing in a fridge - Fresh fruit like berries and grapes, will last longer if kept in their original packaging and stored in the crisper of your fridge. Plastic bags with tiny vents (openings) help keep fruit fresh longer by releasing moisture. They are great for grapes, blueberries, cherries or strawberries. Berries can last in the fridge for about a week. It’s a good idea to eat as soon as possible so they don’t spoil.
Did you know? Apples cause other fruit and vegetables to ripen faster. Keep them in a separate place in the fridge, if possible.
Storage tips –
· Produce that keeps best at room temperature needs air circulation. Plastic bags at room temperature equals premature spoilage.
· Most refrigerated produce stays fresh longer when sealed, whether in zip-top plastic bags, reusable silicone pouches, or containers with tight-fitting lids. These containers hold in moisture, preventing produce from dehydrating, and they help protect sensitive products from the effects of ethylene gas. You can use produce bags from the grocery store, too.
Don’t’ use bleach, baking soda, vinegar or chemical cleaners - After the pandemic, a lot of misconceptions have been circulated regarding washing fruits such as washing with bleach, baking soda, vinegar or chemical cleaners because these might seep into the fruits and later be consumed due to the porous nature of fruits.
Remember eating fruits is a healthy choice. So make sure that you wash and store your fruits well so that you enjoy their taste along with gaining the associated health benefits too.