Reduce your plastic usage, prolong the life of your produce, and reduce the risk of microplastics leaching into your food by using alternative storage for fruits and vegetables. Here are some tips for storing common produce.
Always remove any tight bands from your vegetables or at least loosen them to allow them to breathe.
Broccoli: place in an open container in the fridge or wrap in a damp towel before placing in the fridge.
Cabbage: left out on a cool counter is fine up to a week, in the crisper otherwise. Peel off outer leaves if they start to wilt. Cabbage might begin to lose its moisture after a week, so it’s best used as soon as possible.
Carrots: cut the tops off to keep them fresh longer. Place them in closed container with plenty of moisture, wrapped in a damp towel. Or you can dunk them in cold water every couple of days if they’re stored that long.
Cauliflower: will last a while in a closed container in the fridge, but it’s said that cauliflower has the best flavor the day it’s bought.
Celery: does best when simply placed in a cup or bowl of shallow water on the counter.
Cucumber: wrapped in a moist towel in the fridge. If you’re planning on eating them within a day or two after buying them, they should be fine left out in a cool room.
Garlic: store in a cool, dark, place.
Greens: remove any bands, twist ties, etc. Most greens must be kept in an air-tight container with a damp cloth to keep them from drying out. Kale, collards, and chard even do well in a cup of water on the counter or fridge.
Lettuce: keep damp in an airtight container in the fridge.
Onion: store in a cool, dark and dry, place. Good air circulation is best, so don’t stack them.
Potatoes: (like garlic and onions) are best stored in cool, dark and dry place, such as a box in a dark corner of the pantry; a paper bag also works well.
Tomatoes: never refrigerate. Depending on ripeness, tomatoes can stay for up to two weeks on the counter. To hasten ripeness, place in a paper bag with an apple.
Additional Information
Find more food storage tips at My Plastic Free Life website:
https://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/05/18/how-to-store-produce-without-plastic/
Research study about microplastics in food storage containers:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165993623005083#sec8