PRODUCE STORAGE
Proper produce storage is vital to the longevity of your new produce. Download a copy of this guide (PDF).
Open Containers:
Please keep in mind that some produce items may be distributed in non-factory-sealed containers.
Apples
Avoid washing apples before storing. Remove any spoiled apples. Put in a plastic bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator, or store in a cool place for no longer than 6 weeks.
Warning: Storing apples next to broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens or cauliflower will cause these veggies to spoil faster. Apples give off ethylene gas, which causes faster ripening.
To speed up ripening, put an apple in a bag with fruits such as peaches, plums and bananas.
Artichoke
Refrigerator life: 4 to 5 days. Add a few drops of water to a plastic bag.
Asparagus
Refrigerator life: 4 to 5 days. Wrap stalk bottoms in a damp paper towel and place in a loosely closed plastic bag in crisper section of refrigerator, or stand in 2” of water, store in refrigerator with plastic bag over tips.
Broccoli
Refrigerator life: 4 days. Store in an open plastic bag.
Butternut Squash
Store in a dry area with good air circulation up to 6 mos. Winter squash should not be refrigerated unless cut. Stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from light, it will keep for up to three months. Cut squash will keep one week when wrapped tightly and refrigerated.
Cabbage, Whole
Refrigerator life: 1 to 2 weeks in a plastic bag.
Cabbage, Cut
Refrigerator life: 1 to 2 days if wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
Carrots
Refrigerator life: Variable. Store in their original plastic bag.
Cauliflower, Whole
Refrigerator life: Up to 5 days. Store stem-side up in a plastic bag.
Celery
Refrigerator life: Up to 2 weeks. Store in a plastic bag.
Cherries
Cherries are highly perishable; refrigerate ASAP. Sort carefully and place loosely in a shallow container so that air can circulate. Wash cherries just before using. For highest quality, fresh cherries should be stored only 1 or 2 days.
Cilantro
Wash in cool water, remove dead stems/leaves, snip ends. Pat dry and place stems in cup with water but avoid submerging the leaves. Cover with a plastic bag/wrap and refrigerate. Change water if it becomes murky. Can also store, prepped as above, wrapped with a damp paper towel in a plastic bag. Most fresh herbs will last more than a week when stored this way.
Corn
More than any other vegetable, sweet corn tastes best when it's fresh from the garden. The minute it's picked, its sugar content starts turning to starch.
Cucumber
Refrigerator life: 1 week if waxed; less if not waxed.
Eggplant
Refrigerator life: 3 to 4 days. Store in a plastic bag.
Garlic
Shelf life: A few weeks to a few months, depending on size. Store in a cool, dark location.
Grapes
Avoid washing grapes before storing them. Check through bunches for spoiled grapes and remove; put grapes in a plastic bag in your refrigerator and store for a week maximum. Wash under cold water just before serving.
Green Beans
Refrigerator life: 3 to 5 days. Store in a plastic bag.
Jalapenos
Keep cool and dry. If you refrigerate them, first remove them from the plastic produce bag; otherwise they'll become soft and moldy. Generally they'll keep for 3-4 days. Once the skin begins to wrinkle, it loses potency, and if you're roasting or blanching them, the skins will be difficult to peel.
Leafy Vegetables
Refrigerator life: 3 to 5 days. Wrap in a damp paper towel and place in a plastic bag.
Leeks
Refrigerator life: Up to 1 week. Loosely wrap in a plastic bag.
Lettuce
Refrigerator life: Lettuce stored in sealed plastic bags in the crisper will last from a few days to 2 weeks. The firmer the lettuce the longer it will keep; iceberg up to 2 weeks, Romaine 10 days, butter and leaf lettuces for 4 days. Do not store with melons, apples, pears or other ethylene gas-emitting fruits, as they will cause the lettuce to turn brown.
Mangoes
A few black spots on the skin are typical of ripe mangoes. Put in a paper bag to ripen at room temp (two will ripen faster than one) and keep in a cool place, such as a cupboard. Move to refrigerator when ripe and use within a few days.
Mushrooms
Prepackaged mushrooms can be stored unopened in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Once opened, mushrooms should be moved to a paper bag and refrigerated.
Nectarines
Store at room temperature until fully ripe. Once fully ripe, store them in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days. Nectarines stored longer may lose their juicy flavor. Use a little lemon or other citrus juice on the cut areas to retard the browning affect.
Onions, Cut
Refrigerator life: 2 to 3 days if tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.
Onions, Green
Store green onions/scallions away from odor-sensitive foods such as corn and mushrooms, which will absorb the odor of the onions. Remove bands and damaged leaves and store in plastic bags in the crisper. They'll last up to 5 days.
Onions, Whole
Shelf life: 3 to 4 weeks. Store in a cool, dry, open space.
Oranges
Store citrus at room temp if you'll eat it in a week or so, or it will keep in the crisper for 6-8 weeks. Citrus is ripe when picked. Surface marks usually do not affect the fruit inside.
Peas
Refrigerator life: 1 to 2 days. Store in a plastic bag.
Peppers
Refrigerator life: Up to 1 week. Store in a plastic bag.
Potatoes, New
Shelf life: 1 week. Store in a cool, dark, dry place.
Potatoes, All-Purpose and Baking
Shelf life: Store in burlap, brown paper or perforated plastic bags away from light, in the coolest, non-refrigerated and well-ventilated part of the house. They can last up to 3 months, but more realistically, 3-5 weeks. Don't store onions and potatoes together, as the gases they each give off will cause rot.
Pumpkin
Shelf life: Up to 1 month in a cool, dry place.
Scallions (Green Onions)
Refrigerator life: Up to 3 days. Store in a plastic bag.
Spinach
Untie, remove blemished leaves, wash thoroughly in cold water, spin dry and refrigerate in plastic bag for 2-3 days.
Squash (Winter), Whole
Shelf life: Up to 3 months. Store in a cool, dry place.
Squash (Winter), Cut
Refrigerator life: Up to 1 week if wrapped tightly in plastic.
Squash (Summer)
Refrigerator life: Up to 1 week. Store in a plastic bag.
Strawberries
Strawberries are extremely perishable and should be refrigerated immediately. Wash just before enjoying. Refrigerate in a single layer on a paper towel in a moisture-proof container. Eat them within 72 hours, or freeze up to 10 months. Ideally, let them come to room temperature before serving to bring out best flavor.
Sweet Potatoes
Shelf life: Up to 1 month if stored in a cool, dry place; up to 1 week if stored at room temperature. If refrigerated, their natural sugar will turn to starch and ruin the flavor.
Tomatoes
Shelf life: Up to 2 days once fully ripe. Store at room temperature for the best flavor. Tomatoes should never be in the refrigerator until they have been cooked, cut or put into a raw dish like a salsa, or are fully ripe and then would spoil if left at room temperature. Place tomatoes stem end up, in a sealed paper bag with or without ethylene-producing fruit such as bananas. Refrigerated ripe tomatoes will taste better if brought to room temperature before eating.
Watermelon
Uncut watermelons - keep at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Store cut watermelons in refrigerator. Cover cut surface loosely with plastic wrap.