Preserve Your Produce

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Mixed fruit and vegetables

You pay good money for your fruits and vegetables, and sometimes they get overripe before you have a chance to enjoy them.

Controlling moisture is one of the most important things you can do, along with keeping certain ethylene-producing produce, such as bananas, apples, tomatoes, avocados, peaches, cantaloupe, kiwi, and figs, away from more sensitive produce like dark leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, eggplant, green beans, and cucumbers.

Combining these types of produce will age the more sensitive produce rapidly. Keep them in separate crispers, or, if you have only one crisper, store them in separate containers within the same drawer.

You can line your crispers with paper towel to help absorb moisture or toss a sheet of FreshPaper into your bowl or crisper will help keep your produce fresh 2 to 4 times longer. We're a fan!

"Our customers say it's like a dryer sheet for your fruit," says inventor Kavita Shukla, who created FreshPaper with spices from a home remedy her grandmother in India made for her as a child.

"The main ingredient is sweet-smelling fenugreek, which inhibits bacterial and fungal growth. The maple-like scent tells you the sheet is active," says Kavita.

The cost for 8 sheets starts at $12.99, which is a bargain when you consider what you pay for produce and how much longer it will keep. Once in use, a FreshPaper sheet will last one month or longer, until the maple-like scent fades.

You can purchase them on Amazon, at Whole Foods, or directly from FreshPaper.

Other alternatives for preserving your produce include freezing produce, which can keep much of it safely for 3 to 6 months. Prep your produce for freezing by washing, drying, and chopping, then store it in freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Most produce, once frozen, is suitable only for cooking.