Refrigeration Tips for Storing Fresh Vegetables and FruitHere are some quick and useful refrigeration tips that will help you preserve flavour and crispness when storing fresh vegetables and fruit.Ripen before refrigerationSome fruits need to ripen before refrigeration in order for their full flavour to develop. These are avocadoes, mangoes, pawpaw, pears, plums and tomatoes. Ripen out of direct sunlight, at room temperature, and then refrigerate. Peaches and rockmelons ripen in the fridge but more slowly than at room temperature.Do not refrigerateDont refrigerate bananas, garlic, potatoes, onions, whole pumpkins or pineapples.Prevent dehydrationFridges have relatively low humidity which can quickly dry out fruits and vegetables, but loose wrapping in plastic bags, containers or film slows dehydration.Temperature variation in your refrigeratorThe temperature in your fridge varies the bottom, where the crisper is, is the warmest position. In addition to your actual thermostat setting, the number of times your fridge door is opened and how fully it is stacked affect temperature. Some produce is best stored in the crisper, and some produce keeps better in the higher, cooler parts of your fridge.Store in crisperThese fruits and vegetables require cold temperatures - store in the crisper section of your refrigerator: avocado beans capsicum chokos cucumber custard apples eggplant mangoes passionfruit persimmons pawpaw squash tomatoes zucchini Store in higher parts of the fridgeThese fruits and vegetables prefer even colder temperatures - so store in the higher parts of your fridge: apples apricots beetroot (remove tops) broccoli brussel sprouts cabbage carrots (remove tops) celery cherries cauliflower grapes lettuce mushrooms parsnips peaches pears plums radish (remove tops) rhubarb silverbeet sweet corn turnips References Debney, H.G. (1980). Handling and Storage Practices for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: Product Manual. South Yarra, Vic.:Australian United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. Tomkins, B. (1995). Agriculture Notes: Storage Life of Vegetables [online]. Knoxfield: Victorian Department of Primary Industries. Woolworths Ltd (1993). Fresh Food Cooking: The Healthy Way with Vegetables and Fruit. Epping, N.S.W. : R & R Publishing. Back to How to Keep Vegetables Fresh from Refrigeration Tips for Storing Fresh Vegetables and Fruit
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