Published Nov 2022

How To Store Your Fruits and Vegetables To Keep Them Fresher For Longer

"Taking care to prepare and cook your food safely is important in preventing illness. Food needs to be stored, handled and cooked carefully and at temperatures that avoid the spread and growth of bacteria that can make you sick"  - Health Direct Australia

We have all had a mantra at some point that's similar to "eat healthy, feel healthy" or "nourish yourself from the inside out" or "this week I'm going to eat so many greens". Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately for many of us, by the time we reach for the fresh product in our fridge, they've spoiled and end up in the bin. This generally comes down to how fresh produce is stored, and the answer is: not correctly. 

There is no one size fits all for how to store fresh fruits and vegetables. Better Health Australia advises to store food in suitable, covered containers. Fear not, Tupperware has created fruit and vegetable storage containers to rectify produce not lasting as long as it could! VentSmarts are renowned for their ability to keep your food fresher, for longer, meaning less spoilage and food waste.

How you ask? This all comes down to the unique slide vent system that allows you to adjust the airflow according to the type of produce stored in these iconic fruit and vegetables containers. Here’s a fun fact: each fruit and vegetable requires its own storage location due to the ethylene that is emitted as the produce ripens. For example, if an apple is placed with vegetables, once too ripe, it is likely to spoil the other produce earlier than expected. Additionally, each container has built in grids to keep moisture away from the food – fancy, huh?

How to safely store fruit:

Great tasting fruit starts with storage. Did you know if you refrigerate certain fruit before it ripens it will lose its flavour and moisture. To get the most out of your fruit, consume within the first 1-3 days and store each group in it’s own individual VentSmart container. Here are some examples:

• VentSmart Mini’s are ideal for red grapes, blueberries, peas and herbs and spices like chilli and parsley.
• VentSmart Small Lows are ideal for spinach, strawberries, peas, artichokes and Brussel sprouts.
• VentSmart Small High’s are ideal for red apples, lettuce, beetroots, and cherries
• VentSmart Medium Low’s are ideal for corn, mushrooms, zucchini’s carrots and celery
• VentSmart Medium High’s are ideal for cauliflower, green grapes, fresh figs, broccoli and watermelon
• VentSmart Large High’s are ideal for green apples, rhubarb, pineapple and leek

Remember, each fruit or vegetable requires a different airflow for optimal freshness. Make sure to check the airflow grid on the container to help!

Fruits To Store in The Fridge

Some fruits can be finicky on where they like to be stored. We’re not joking, fruit can be very temperamental. Unsure which fruits to store in the fridge? These are our refrigeration-musts: berries, cherries, figs, grapes, watermelon, mint, and ginger. After a few days of being outside of the fridge avocados, kiwis, stone fruits and apples like to be welcomed into the fridge.

Following that these are our top tips to storing fruits in the fridge:

1. Don’t wash your fruit before storing. Washing your fruit too soon may cause bacteria to grow and ultimately shorten its lifespan.
2. Store fruit separately. The amount of ethylene that a fruit gives off will affect ethylene sensitive fruits. When using VentSmarts, refer to the storage chart guide on the container. This will help you identify which fruits will be besties.
3. Make sure that all fruit stored in the VentSmarts that the venting tab is in line with the fruits that are in the container
4. Whilst VentSmarts can lengthen the lifespan of your fruit to up to 4 weeks, we recommend consuming your fruit within the first few days for ultimate freshness!

Fruits That Are Better Maintained Outside The Fridge

Ok, so now we know which fruits are best inside the fridge, let’s touch on the fruits which thrive outside the fridge! Bananas, avocados, tomatoes, pineapple and pears all like to be kept out of the fridge in a warm-room temp room. Citrus fruits are a little different. Citrus fruits enjoy being outside of the fridge for the first few days. This also gives them a slightly sweeter taste. However, if not consumed within the first 3-5 days of purchase, pop them in a VentSmart and straight into the fridge for the next couple weeks, or until eaten!

Perhaps you only wanted half a banana? Store the open fruit in a VentSmart for 1-2 days. Be mindful to not pair it with anything else unless you want your other produce to ripen at an extra quick rate.

Be mindful of storing fruits outside of the fridge. Try to place them in a position away from direct sunlight whilst also being kept outside of dark spaces. This will help your fruit from spoiling too quickly.

How to safely store vegetables

Vegetables are similar to fruits in how they like to be stored. There are a handful of vegetables that like living in a colder environment, whilst others thrive being kept in room temperature. Our range of VentSmart containers work in the same way for veggies.

Vegetables To Store in The Fridge

So which vegetables like to be stored in the fridge? Here are a few to get you started: zucchini, eggplant, peppers, lettuce and leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, cabbage, celery, carrots, asparagus, green onions and parsley.

Vegetables That Are Better Maintained Outside The Fridge

Let’s start with the basic. As a rule of thumb, hearty root vegetables prefer a cool, dark environment. This is where our Potato, Onion and Garlic Mates come into play. Store in a cupboard or on the bench, the ventilated seal ensures a free circulation of air to extend the life of these veggies.

Let your produce breathe easier in storage containers scientifically designed to prolong their shelf life. You breathe easier with less waste and money saved.

Article author: Tupperware Australia. Tupperware® is globally recognised as a highly reputable brand. Tupperware® is renowned to last for years and some items are made from recycled products, making Tupperware an eco-friendly choice.

Sources:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/food-safety

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-safety-and-storage