Top Tips to Keep Your Berries, Fruits, and Vegetables Fresh Longer

Discover practical advice on where and how to store berries, fruits, and vegetables—whether in the refrigerator, on your kitchen counter, or in a cool, dry place—to keep them fresh for as long as possible.

Key Points to Consider

Let’s start with a quick chemistry lesson. Ethylene is a colorless, odorless gas that accelerates the ripening process in certain fruits. Some fruits produce high amounts of ethylene (like apples and pears), while others generate very little.

Fruits that release significant amounts of ethylene include:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Melons
• Figs
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Tomatoes

It's best not to store these fruits together with other produce unless you want to speed up their ripening. For example, placing a banana inside a paper bag traps the ethylene gas, causing it to ripen faster. Similarly, keeping apples or pears with bananas can accelerate ripening.

Also, damaged fruits emit ethylene more rapidly. So, a single bruised apple can cause the entire batch to spoil sooner than expected.

Optimal Storage Locations

Right after shopping, storing your fruits and vegetables correctly is essential to avoid waste and protect your investment.

Keep the following produce in the refrigerator:

• Artichokes
• Beets
• Brussels sprouts
• Melons
• Celery
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Green beans
• Lima beans
• Leafy greens
• Leeks
• Okra
• Spinach
• Sprouts
• Zucchini

When refrigerating, you can store produce without packaging, in plastic bags, or in paper bags. Plastic bags retain moisture, so avoid sealing them tightly or punch small holes to allow airflow.

It’s preferable not to wash fruits and vegetables before refrigeration. If washed, dry them thoroughly to prevent mold growth, which can harm other items and your health.

After ripening, store these fruits in the fridge:

• Avocados
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Kiwis

Store the following in water, similar to how you would keep flowers:

• Asparagus
• Herbs and greens

Trim the stems and place them in a glass with a small amount of water to keep them fresh.

Store these in paper bags:

• Mushrooms
• Okra

Do not wash and store in plastic bags:

• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Corn
• Cranberries
• Green onions
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Radishes

Store berries in a single layer without washing:

• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Raspberries

These berries are delicate with soft skins. Washing them before storage can damage their surface, causing juice to leak and accelerate spoilage. Keeping them in small containers in a single layer helps them last much longer.

Store these on the kitchen counter:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Tomatoes
• Basil
• Cucumbers
• Eggplants
• Ginger
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Limes
• Oranges
• Mangoes
• Papayas
• Peppers
• Persimmons
• Pineapples
• Watermelons
• Pomegranates

Avoid placing them in direct sunlight or near heat sources like the stove. Rotate the fruits occasionally to prevent them from resting on the same side for too long, especially tomatoes.

Store these in a cool, dark place:

• Garlic
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Pumpkins
• Leeks

Traditional root cellars remain popular in rural areas for good reason—they provide the perfect environment to store potatoes, onions, pumpkins, and garlic throughout the winter.

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