Fruit and Vegetable Storage

Tomatoes should never be kept in the fridge. It ruins them. They should be out in the open, room temperature. Put a bowl of apple cider vinegar next to the bowl of tomatoes, and that will attract the gnats. This is what I do, to keep my veggies lasting a long time. (I do this with all my fruits, as well. Not bananas. And I don't pre-wash grapes. ) As soon as I get home, I do a vinegar bath on all my fruits and veggies. It kills any bacteria and mold spores. I get a tub and do 1 part vinegar, to ten parts water. I put the fruits and veggies in there are leave them for about 20-30 minutes. Then, I rinse them in water, and allow them to air dry. I get produce bags from the dollar tree, and put the fruits and veggies in the produce bags with paper towels. (They absorb any humidity.) Then put them in the crisper drawers. I get veggies and fruits once a week, and have never had anything go bad. For things that don't need to be in the fridge, be careful what you keep next to each other. Potatoes and onions can't be next to each other. In fact, it's best to keep tomatoes away from everything as well.

Also...Berries, I leave in the vinegar bath for 10-15 minutes. Many people will tell you not to wash berries first, because it will make them mushy. A vinegar bath is not like washing them. Berries are very susceptible to mold spores, and the vinegar kills them. I I have berries in my fridge right now from almost 2 weeks ago, that are bright red and firm. I bought a large amount through my co-op.

Here is the link to the produce bags I use. You can also get "green bags" from grocery stores. http://www.dollartree.com/kitchen-tableware/food-storage/...

My potatoes I keep in a bag in an old dough bowl that was my grandmother's. No gnats.

Tomatoes I keep on the window sill.
Pineapple, canteloupe....counter til cut, then fridge in tupperware.
Bananas--countertop.
Watermellon--fridge, while whole and after cutting.

Everything else (hearty stuff: romaine, iceberg, cukes, cut onions, celery, radishes, etc. goes into the crisper bins. Onion in a ziplock bag.

Berries...keep them in the store container until I wash & use that day.

Good luck!

We have NEVER put our tomatoes in the fridge unless we've cut them already.

We go through them fast in this house. We love to slice 'em and put sugar on them. My wife loves them with mozzarella cheese and basil vinaigrette dressing so they don't last long here.

I've heard about the vinegar bowl next to the tomatoes, but have not tried it myself.

My onions? I put them in a ziploc bag and then inside an old frosting container. Drives my wife nuts. I sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the container and it helps contain onion smells.

Potatoes and unused onions? We put in a hanging basket. They last for weeks.

What I have found since becoming a SAHD? I love to cook!!!

Onions and potatoes should be keep in a cool dry place. I keep mine in a plastic bin without a top in the basement and they last for months with no problems. (I'm guessing in TX you might not have a basement) Do you have a pantry, keep them near the floor.

If the tomatoes aren't quite ripe when I purchase them, I put them on the windowsill or counter for a day or two, and then in the crisper drawer in the fridge.