Do you plan on eating more produce now that it’s the Summer season?
Or are you planning on visiting your local farmers’ market throughout
the planting season?

Well, if you do plan on buying (and eating) more produce, make
sure you don’t throw out a lot of it and waste money.
Simply put- use the following tips to ensure that the produce
you buy, won’t turn overripe and mushy before you get a chance
to eat it.

a) No More Brown Bananas-
You buy bananas that are still a little green and hard and in
a week for two, they have brown spots and are soft and mushy.
To combat this, cover the stems with plastic wrap.
This simple tip slows down the ripening process by up to a week.

b) Help For Tomatoes-
Want to hang onto your tomatoes and prevent them from getting
too ripe and mushy?
Set them, stem side down, on the counter.
The stem is where moisture leaves the tomato and where mold and
bacteria gets in. Also smart: Store them in a cool spot out of direct
sunlight to ensure flavor-producing enzymes to develop. Leaving them
in the refrigerator stops enzyme activity, which ruins the flavor.

c) Berry-Berry Good-
If you buy fresh berries, then you know all about the mold that may
develop on them. The simple fix: Submerge berries in a solution
of equal parts water and vinegar, dry them, then place them
in a container lined with paper towels. The vinegar (its taste evaporates
quickly) neutralizes mold, while the paper towel absorbs dampness.
This simple step will increase the lifespan of your berries by
one week.

d) Hold Onto Herbs-
You buy fresh herbs, only to watch them turn brown in less than 2 weeks.
The saving technique: Gather them up into a “bouquet” and place
them (the herbs) in a water-filled glass (or vase). A water-bath hydrates
the herbs and ensures freshness.

e) Celery-
This veggie is quite sturdy and keeping it in the refrigerator for
a few weeks doesn’t seem to cause it any harm, but if you
do want it to last longer, wrap the celery in aluminum foil.
Plastic bags may seem ideal, but bags trap a gas called Ethylene,
causing it to go limp.

Sources:
* Lisa Leslie-Williams-creator of The DomesticLifeStylist.com
* Lauren McDuffie- creator of MyKitchenLittle.com
* Katie Tomaschko, Registered Dietician
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