How to preserve fruit and vegetables?

Have you ever stopped to think about whether the temperature in your fridge is correct for the preservation of fruit and vegetables? Do you keep them in the same drawer or does each one have its own space?

We are used to always keeping fruit and vegetables in the same places, in areas that we have set aside for this purpose.

However, it is not always the most appropriate place, nor the one that best suits each food. There is a lot of misinformation on this subject, and this means that, unconsciously, we are causing our products to lose their best flavour or nutrients faster than they should.

Here are some tips on how to keep your fruit and vegetables in the best possible condition for as long as possible. Take note!

• To keep fruit and vegetables in the fridge, it is best to store them in perforated plastic bags or, failing that, in the least cold drawers of the fridge.
• Ideally, fruits should be separated from vegetables to prevent the ethylene produced by some fruits from damaging the vegetables.
• To fully enjoy the flavour, texture and aroma of the fruit, it is recommended to take it out of the fridge a short time before eating it.
• On the other hand, if we want to keep them at room temperature, the ideal is to strain them in a place out of direct light and leave them in a bowl, dish or perforated plastic bag.

Which fruits and vegetables are best kept in the fridge, and which are best kept at room temperature?

Apart from the above, there are some fruits and vegetables whose composition and properties make them better preserved in the fridge than at room temperature.

We will now tell you which fruits and vegetables are best to keep in your home. in the fridge:

As fruits: apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cut fruit, grapes, raspberries, strawberries and figs. And vegetables that are best kept refrigerated: artichokes, asparagus, green beans, endives, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, peas, radishes, corn, spring onions, leeks, turnips and watercress.

We emphasise apples to tell you that, ideally, you should separate them from the rest of the food, as it is a fruit that, due to its high ethylene load, can accelerate the ripening of the rest of the food.

Let us now see which ones are best left to ambient temperatureto prevent damage or loss of properties, aroma, texture or flavour due to the cold:

Bananas, citrus fruits, melons, watermelons, persimmons, pineapples and pomegranates are the fruits that should be left out of the fridge. As for vegetables, cucumbers, beetroots, peppers, garlic, onions, tomatoes, pumpkins and potatoes.

Finally, there is a third group of fruits that are best kept at room temperature for a while and then stored in the fridge. These are pears, plums, nectarines, peaches, avocados and kiwis.

Can fruit and vegetables be kept in good condition in the long term?

The answer is yes, and, what's more, it retains all its flavour and nutrients. But there are a number of points to bear in mind, which we will explain below:

To preserve fruit and vegetables in the long term, we can make sauces, compotes or jams. In any of these ways we can enjoy the flavour of the food all year round.

Another way is through the dehydration method. In this way we manage to eliminate the water from the food to prevent microorganisms from growing, maintaining the taste qualities of the fruit and vegetables. One way to eat dehydrated fruit and vegetables is with yoghurt, muesli or salads.

As you have read, there are many ways to preserve fruit and vegetables with all their nutrients and flavours. We know that there are many guidelines that we have given you, and that it is possible that you are currently doing it in a different way, but we encourage you to keep these points in mind so that you can enjoy these delicious foods for longer.