Tips We Swear by to Keep Produce Fresh Longer

Let’s face it, buying the perfect amount of food for the household is an art that not many of us have perfected. Storing food properly and extending its freshness not only benefits our tastebuds, but it also becomes crucial to our effort in reducing food waste.

When stored properly, some of our everyday ingredients can last much longer than we think. For today’s edition, we want to share how we personally store these veggies at home: potato, corn, and cucumber.

Nice and Cold

We recommend storing your potatoes in the fridge to keep them fresh and crisp. However, everyone’s fridge is set to different temperatures. 4-6°C (39-42°F) is the perfect range we suggest. One study showed that storing potatoes in cool temperatures more than quadrupled their shelf life in comparison to keeping them at room temperature.

Skip the Rinsing

People tend to rinse off the dirt found on potatoes before storing them, and most of them do this because they are concerned about pesticides. And guess what, it's most likely not news to you that our produce is always pesticide-free. By skipping the washing, which adds moisture, we can avoid spoiling the potatoes caused by the rapid growth of bacteria and fungus.

Avoid Sealed Containers

On the topic of moisture, avoid storing potatoes in lidded containers or sealed bags as they trap the moisture potatoes produce and induce mould and bacteria growth. Try the reusable and recyclable plastic bags that came with your produce from CultivatR and don’t forget to leave a small vent.

Keep It Cold

Just like potatoes, corns love being in the fridge. The sugar in corns begins to turn into starch as soon as they are harvested. The process is sped up in warmer temperatures. So refrigeration is key to preserve corns' sweet juiciness.

Leave the Husks On

The husks allow the corns to retain moisture, so only remove the husks when you're ready to cook the corn. Feel free to remove the outer shucks and keep a couple of layers intact if the corns are too bulky to fit in the fridge.

Store the Corns in a Bag

In addition to the husks, wrap the corns in a plastic bag for that second layer of moisture shield. However, apply the same logic for storing potatoes, leave a few air circulation openings to avoid the growth of bacteria and mould.

Away From Ripening Fruits and Veggies

Cucumbers are sensitive to ethylene gas, which is produced by ripening fruits and vegetables such as melons, tomatoes or bananas. So for more extended storage, don't let them sit close.

Put 'em in the fridge

To preserve its crunchiness, put the cukes somewhere cold, but not too cold. We suggest you go with the temperature range mentioned above 4-6°C (39-42°F) for your fridge.

Wrap in Good Old Paper Towels

Be sure to wrap the cucumbers in paper towels individually, put them in the reusable plastic bags from CultivatR, and store the bags in the fridge. This is to absorb excess moisture (cucumbers have a staggering 96% water content) and prevent them from getting prematurely slimy. This will also prevent ethylene gases, produced by other fruits and veggies, from spoiling the cukes. Just like how you store potatoes and corns, don't forget to leave a small opening.