NOTE: These are just my methods. I'm not a scientist in this department of food. So exacting details about how long the food will last in your refrigerator, I would not know. I just know it works for me and my food has lasted one to two weeks longer. And from the farmers market the food has lasted even three weeks longer.
And also consider it depends were you live too. Dry and Wetter climates effect cooking, it also effect the refrigerator settings. It's up to you to find out how to fine tune your refrigerator.
You get home with all your veggies and you put them in the crisper and you use some up and then a few weeks or two go by and you realize that some of them don't look to hot and you half to throw them out.
HERE IS THE ENEMIES OF VEGETABLES.
1. Moisture.
2. They can't breath.
3. Other food. Yes other food will explain.
4. Improper refrigeration setting.
5. Air exposure.
6. You. Just had to add that one in. ;)
Basically everything is out to kill your veggies, but their are way to slow down the process so your veggies last as long as possible.
HERE IS WHAT THESE ENEMIES DO:
MOISTURE. Veggies like to stay nice and dry as they chill in the crisper or any other area of the refrigerator. If the moisture build up is too much this will seep into the pours of the so call veggies and it will create an ideal place for mold. Yuck.
THEY CAN'T BREATH:
Your food is still alive and it is still exchanging gases thought the skin and that gas is getting trapped in the bag you put it in. Veggies need to breath.
OTHER FOOD:
All the food in your refrigerator is releasing gases. And those gas cause other food like veggies to ripen faster or if left unchecked for too long, rot.
IMPROPER REFRIGERATION SETTING:
It's is so important to learn what the proper setting are on your refrigerator. If you have frozen items in your refrigerator. You need to fix the settings, this can damage veggies and speed up the spoiling process.
AIR EXPOSURE:
If you leave your veggies uncovered and unprotected they will wilt and die. Ever grabbed a celery out of the refrigerator and it's limp, like really limp that is why. If you have carrots and celery like this use them for soup. Cut the bad spots off. Think of it like this you have a plant you water and it's a happy plant and stand straight up. You forget to water it for a week, and it look so sad. You water it and it's happy again.
METHODS FOR PROTECTING VEGGIES!
These have really worked for me I hope they work for you.
Everyone puts there veggies in plastic baggies. Well almost every one. And they you use a twist tie to keep the food from falling out. Every one got their own method. And some people don't use plastic bags.
You come home with your lettuce. Save the plastic bag it came in. It's already wet from being sprayed so take it to the sink and gently shake it off as much as possible. Then Turn the plastic bag inside out. Dry of the out side with a towel, if you don't the moisture will affect other items. Gently wrap on lose piece of paper towel around the lettuce. Place in bad, do not close with twist tie, but rather let it be. This allows the lettuce to get air, but not be exposed to air. Ok so you want to use your lettuce take it out remove what you need and check the paper towel, is it still dry? Is it damp, or does it look like it needs to be changed. Once again if it needs to be changed pull out the lettuce discard the paper town. Turn the plastic bag inside out and dry off the out side. Add new paper towel and return to the refrigerator. Sound like a lot of work, but in the long run, it saves you money.
When you see moisture eliminate it by cleaning it off the veggie and inverting the bag on a dry towel so it absorbs the moisture
Is your crisper at the right setting it self? Don't fill up the veggie crisper to the max, this will speed up ripening process. Each item should have enough space to get adequate breathing room. Make sure the Crisper it's self is clean and dried and has either paper towel lining or a clean towel to absorb extra moisture.
If you must place some veggies outside of the crisper keep all the veggies at the bottom. If your veggies have frozen spots your refrigerator setting needs to be changed to the proper settings. Space them out on the bottom for maximum breathing space.
Just try to make sure all the bags with veggie in them are open to vent. If you put your veggie in a bag with a twist tie and leave it in the refrigerator or crisper that amounts to veggi-side. The gas build up in the bag and moisture too and were their lost of moisture there mold.
Garlic, Onions, Potatoes or any other starchy food are no no for the refrigerator or crisper.
Make sure all the other food in your refrigerator is sealed securely because this also can speed up your food ripening process and create more moisture. The sandwich you left for your husband has pickles and mayonnaise on it and maybe the plastic wrap is not secure enough or a half drunken soda pop. Their are many things. So make sure all food is sealed safely.
Yes it is virtually impossible to keep your veggies from releasing gasses, which cause other veggies to ripen quicker. Think about it like this it's like playing chess in your crisper, you are always trying to stay one step ahead.
The setting of your refrigerator will really determine how long your veggie will last. So if your not sure get the guide out or google it. It's so important.
Ta ta for now. :)
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