Food Guide: 5 Ways on How to Store Your Vegetables Properly
Food is one of the essential things in life. We have the right to enjoy delicious and healthy meals three times a day. Being a part of a family and being a professional encourages us to budget food products to provide for our family members.
Processed foods, however, might save the day for a while since they have added preservatives to save anyone from making extensive storage efforts. Unfortunately, these foods give the appropriate nutrients for the body compared to fresh ingredients. So if you are going to be serious about a healthy diet and lifestyle, switch to fresh and organic food options.
It is crucial to make these fresh ingredients and food last long by learning the proper storage methods. It mainly applies to fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits, raw meats, and poultry. You might be asking questions, like can you freeze celery? Especially when dealing with vegetable preservation. So you might want to continue reading this article to find out the best storage methods for your vegetables.
Is Freezing Vegetables a Good Idea?
Fortunately, most vegetables can be placed in the freezer to preserve their fresh quality for more than a day. But keep in mind that you have to store it on a zip plastic bag or container to avoid cross-contamination with other frozen goods, especially raw meats. Some of the vegetables you can freeze are carrots, spinach, green beans, peas, and kale. And if you are on a calorie deficit diet, you can crush up the cauliflower or broccoli to make an alternative for rice.
You should also know that some vegetables are not recommended for freezing. Freezing celery, cucumbers, parsley, and potatoes might cause them to wilt, sog, and create an unpleasant aroma and flavor. It is just about the research and choice of storage method.
- Use the Refrigerator as a Storage Unit
Refrigerating your vegetables is one of the easiest storage methods that every household can apply. It is also the reason why purchasing a refrigerator is a priority appliance in the house. Every refrigerator manufacturer today has a compartment for vegetables and fruits, so it is up to you to sort the food products out after buying them from the market.
However, keep in mind that vegetables need to be stored in a 33 degrees Celsius or 40 degrees Fahrenheit place. So make sure to double-check your refrigerator’s temperature from time to time. You can also put all the vegetables together or separate them in plastic bags.
- Place Your Vegetables in a Cool and Dry Area
To have your vegetables stay fresh longer, it is recommended that you place them in a cool, dry, or room temperature room. You would want to avoid moisture and heat as much as possible because it speeds up the spoilage and rotting of the vegetables. This storage method is perfect for people who have newly moved into a new living space and have yet to purchase appliances.
Provide good storage cabinets away from windows where sunlight can pass through, as well as from ovens and microwaves. You can also use a spare room, and convert it into a pantry where the temperature is about 50 to 60 degrees F. Also, make sure to use little to no light because light can also contribute to food spoilage.
- Display Your Vegetables on Kitchen Countertops
It is good news because some vegetables do not easily spoil, and they do not need much-needed storage attention. Peppers, Chayotes, zucchinis, and eggplants are some food items that can be prettily displayed on kitchen countertops, ready to cook anytime. These vegetables will provide healthy meals for you and your family and serve as good aesthetics for your overall kitchen interior design.
But it is still important to keep track of the days the vegetables are displayed and cook them as early as possible. After all, vegetables are best eaten when cooked fresh from the market.
- Keep the Vegetables Separate from Other Fresh Food Items
It is always important to separate and sort out your food items into groups to avoid cross-contamination, bacterial breading, and immediate spoilage. Fortunately, most kitchen storage units like the refrigerator and cabinets have different compartments, so you are free to sort them out, even aesthetically and satisfyingly.
If you have the budget and you want your vegetables to be extra secure, you can purchase vacuum-sealed plastic bags to eliminate the air that can also produce moisture. These bags can also help in better segregation and storage for all food items.
Tip: It is also nice to keep your fruits and vegetables as it is because cutting and slicing them will be more prone to spoilage and rotting.
- Secure Your Stalked Vegetables in Jars
Having stalked vegetables is one of the healthiest ones in the market, so it is necessary to store them properly for a longer shelf-life. You can put celery, asparagus, cabbages, bok choy, and other stalked vegetables inside jars and give them enough air circulation space. But you have to make sure not to crowd them like your biscuits and wafers.
One technique you can do with these jars is to fill water halfway, place the vegetable’s stalk in a plastic wrapper, immerse it in the water, then properly seal. Do not forget to change the water frequently too.
Final Thoughts
Eating healthy foods like meats, poultry, fruits, and vegetables will highly contribute to the improvement of your physical and mental health. So it is crucial to have a balanced meal every day to avoid contracting fatal illnesses in the future. People who already have existing medical conditions should also make the effort on choosing the right food.
Just like our bodies, it is necessary to preserve and properly store our food products so they can serve us for a longer period. It is fairly easy to attain proper food storage. All you need is a little browsing through websites like Recipes.net, purchasing the best storage units, and you are good to go!
