Life Hack: Produce Freshness

In our “life hack” series, you’ve learned  baking hacks, alternative uses for dryer sheets and a variety of different ways to use ice cubes. Now, we’re moving on to produce. Our Publix Produce experts have given us tips on how to keep your produce fresh longer. This guide will help you save time and money in the kitchen.

Keep your guacamole green by adding water to sealed bowl.

Pour a small amount of water in a bowl to cover the top of the guacamole. The water will protect your guacamole from excess oxygen, keeping it from browning. Seal bowl and refrigerate it for up to three days. When you are ready to eat it, pour out the water, then stir and enjoy.

Wrap the ends of bananas with plastic wrap to keep from spoiling.

Wrapping the stems of your bananas in plastic wrap will prolong their shelf life.

Treat asparagus like fresh flowers.

To keep asparagus from wilting like a thirsty tulip, store it the same way you would a fresh bouquet. By simply snipping the ends off of the woody stems and placing them in a mason jar filled with water, they’ll stay firm and crisp longer.

Place peaches and nectarines stem-end down on the counter to promote even ripening throughout the fruit.

When storing peaches and nectarines, place them on newspaper or paper towels stem-end down to prevent moisture from entering the fruit, allowing prolonged freshness in your kitchen. Another helpful storage tip is to keep your peaches and nectarines in a cool area and away from direct sunlight. Once they reach your desired level of maturity, which usually takes two to three days, store them in your refrigerator bin until you are ready to eat them.

To soften peaches and nectarines more quickly, place them in a paper bag with a banana.

Fruit naturally releases ethylene gas during the ripening process. The thin paper bag traps the gas, but allows moisture to exit the bag. Tip: Do not use a plastic bag. The plastic material causes peaches to ripen too fast.

Keep your veggies fresh longer in the fridge by storing with a paper towel.

After washing your veggies, don’t forget to dry them. The moisture on the veggies will prevent them from lasting a long time in your refrigerator. Use the paper towel trick! Place the washed veggies in a gallon plastic bag, put a few paper towels in the bag and let the towel do all the work by removing the moisture.

Do you have any kitchen tips and tricks to add to our list? Share them with us in the comments below!