Did
you know that tomatoes don't like being in close quarters with potatoes and
carrots? What most homemakers don't know is that it's not enough to simply place
your favorite produce inside the fridge to keep it fresh. Some fruits and
vegetables should not be placed side-by-side. When you thoughtlessly toss fruits
and vegetables together in one place, you may be tossing hard-earned pesos in
the garbage bin. Why so?
Fruits
and vegetables may go bad quickly even when stored inside the crisper due to the
effect of enzymes. Ethylene gas is a naturally occurring ripening agent produced
by certain fruits and vegetables that cause them to ripen and decay. Some
ethylene producers are avocados, bananas, kiwi, mangoes, papayas, peaches, pears
and tomatoes.
On
the other hand, some fruits and vegetables are sensitive to ethylene gas so that
when placed near ethylene producers, they can become tough, bitter and soft,
they may lose their color, or develop spots. Examples of ethylene-sensitive
produce are apples, asparagus, carrots broccoli, cucumber, eggplant, green
beans, lettuce and greens, potatoes and watermelons.
If
you want a happy neighborhood of fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator,
segregate! Store your favorite produce separately in durable zipper storage
bags.
Carelessly
storing together fresh produce inside the fridge will cause your fruits and
veggies to deteriorate faster. To prevent premature decay and sliminess of
fruits, browning or yellowing of vegetables, and bad smell in the fridge, always
use zipper storage bags.
