Keep onions in a steamer, store apples with potatoes and freeze spring onions in a plastic bottle: Simple hacks that will keep your fruit and veg fresh

  • Many of us stocking up on fruit and veg for January healthy eating
  • But incorrect storage and prepping leads to food waste
  • Only wash berries when you're about to eat as moisture encourages mould
  • Wrap peeled carrots in foil and refrigerate to keep fresh for two weeks  

By Siofra Brennan For Mailonline

Published: 04:53 EST, 16 January 2017 | Updated: 13:00 EST, 16 January 2017

Fridges all over the country are bursting with leafy greens and crunchy veg and fruit bowls are stacked high as many of us try to embrace a healthier lifestyle in January.

But we're all too familiar with salad leaves rapidly wilting and veg going floppy before we've even had the chance to think about whipping up a salad. 

However, you can give your healthy produce an extended shelf life with clever preparation and storage hacks that will keep it fresher for longer, devised by AO.com 

Prepping your produce in the right way will also make sure it goes the distance, so while you might be eager to wash your berries to get rid of any lingering germs, timing is everything. 

Fridges are bursting with leafy greens and crunchy veg as we embrace a healthier lifestyle in January, but the correct storage is key to prevent your produce going off too quickly (stock image)

KEEP LEAVES CRISPY 

Your diet will be in serious peril if your lettuce goes limp as there's nothing less appealing than soggy salad leaves. 

Take your leaves out of the packaging, place in a bowl and put a couple of paper towels of pieces of kitchen roll on top, before tightly covering with cling film and storing in the fridge.

This stops wilting by preventing prevents moisture from settling on the leaves, helping them to stay crisp. 

Place paper towels on top of your salad leaves before covering tightly and storing in the fridge. This will stop moisture settling on the leaves, helping them to stay crisp 

KEEP BULBS AWAY FROM LIGHT 

A bamboo steamer has a handy double use as a receptacle for storing onions and garlic. 

The steamer gives them a cool, well ventilated home that protects them from the light. 

This will prevent sprouting, which means they’ll be edible for much longer.

A bamboo steamer gives onions and garlic a cool, well ventilated home that protects them from the light to prevent sprouting 

MAKE USE OF EMPTY WATER BOTTLES  

Instead of throwing empty water bottles in the recycling, they can find new life as a storage vessel for spring onions. 

Chop up your spring onions, add them to the bottle and freeze.  

When you need them for a stir fry, stew or anything else, shake out what you need and return the rest to the freezer.

Freeze chopped spring onions in an empty water bottle, and when you need them for a stir fry, stew or anything else, shake out what you need and return the rest to the freezer

CREATE AN ASPARAGUS BOUQUET  

Wrap damp paper towels around the bases of your asparagus to keep them hydrated. 

Alternatively, you can put them upright in a glass with about an inch of water, to keep them hydrated and slow down wilting.

Put asparagus spears upright in a glass with about an inch of water, to keep them hydrated and slow down wilting

MIX APPLES AND POTATOES  

Store an apple or two in a ventilated bag with your potatoes and keep them in a cool, dry place. 

This will keep them from sprouting, due to gases emitted from the apple.

Store an apple or two with your potatoes in a cool, dry place. This will prevent them sprouting, due to gases emitted from the apple

WRAP CARROTS IN FOIL 

Peel your fresh carrots and store them in a plastic bag, with as much oxygen squeezed out as possible, or aluminum foil in the fridge. 

Stored like this, they will last up to two weeks.

Peel your fresh carrots and keep them wrapped in foil in the fridge to make them last for two weeks 

DON'T WASH TOO SOON 

Avoid washing your berries until right before you're ready to eat them. 

Moisture encourages mould growth, so they will go off quicker if you rinse them straight away and then put them in the fridge. 

If you use your berries for juice or smoothies, freeze them to keep them fresh for a later date.

Don't wash your berries straight away as the moisture encourages mould growth. Wait until you're ready to eat them 

CHOP OFF THE TOP OF A PINEAPPLE 

Cut the leafy tops off your pineapple and store it upside down. 

This helps redistribute the sugars that sink to the bottom during shipping and keeps it fresh for longer.

Cut the leafy tops off your pineapple and store it upside down. This helps redistribute the sugars that sink to the bottom during shipping and keeps it fresh for longer

FREEZE YOUR HERBS 

Freeze leftover herbs in ice cube trays to retain their freshness. 

Just place the chopped herbs in an ice cube tray, fill with water and place them in the freezer. 

When you’re ready to use, just pop as many cubes as you need into your cooking and the water will evaporate, leaving you with fresh herbs every time.

Freeze leftover herbs in ice cube trays filled with water to retain their freshness

 

 

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