3 Ways to Preserve Produce

Tired of throwing away rotting produce? Try these helpful tips to keep your fruits and veggies lasting longer.

  1. Cold Storage: You may not have a cold storage facility in your home, but a basement with a dirt floor can be used for short-term storage. Lay the produce on shelves, being careful not to let items touch. Some fruits and vegetables that store well are potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, cabbage, apples and pumpkins.
  2. Freezing: Temperatures prevent microorganisms from growing. Some vegetables should be blanched before freezing to prevent loss of color, flavor and nutrients. Blanching also helps destroy microorganisms on the surface of the vegetable. Good foods for freezing include herbs, blueberries, sweet corn, green beans, broccoli and cauliflower.
  3. Drying: The idea is to remove moisture without cooking the product. Traditionally, produce is dried outdoors, spread on racks, screens or tables while the sun and wind do the work. Foods can also be dried in conventional and microwave ovens and in food dehydrators. When using dried foods in recipes, remember they have a more intense flavor.

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