How do you store your fruits & veggies short term?

[old fashioned]

By short term I'm talking about using it within a week or less.

I usually keep most stuff in the fridge 'crisper' drawers at the bottom of the fridge in the plastic bags & usually only the bananas are left out. But I'm wondering about keeping more stuff out like in a basket or something that makes it more visible & easy reach. I would think leafy stuff like lettuce & spinach would need the cooler moist temps to keep from wilting so fast, but what about stuff like tomatoes, peppers, grapes, carrots, etc?
How do you keep yours? and is fridge or counter better? Yes I know the fridge is supposed to slow decomposition/ripening, but...???

Also, how do you keep your eggs? In or out? Ours are kept in the fridge always, but I've heard & seen people that have kept them out on the counter. I don't know or remember for sure what the reasons were other than maybe personal preference, but is there a difference in the outcome?

 

[JRmom]

The only veggies I keep in the fridge are lettuces and herbs, and anything that I know won't get eaten within a week. Everything else stays at room temp on the counter in bowls. I never ever put tomatoes, onions, or potatoes in the fridge. Veggies get eaten up real quick around here.

I usually do put my fruit in the fridge, but only because I like eating fruit cold.

I know you don't have to keep eggs in the fridge, but I'm not sure how long they last at room temp. I know people living on sailboats keep eggs by coating them in vaseline. The eggs are supposed to last a long time that way.

 

[FarmerChick]

eggs in fridge

lettuce cukes in fridge---like JR said some things I like cold...like radishes, celery etc.

apples, bananas on counter

melons and strawberries etc in fridge


most fruit doesn't last long if on counter or in fridge lol

 

[old fashioned]

Vaseline????? I've never heard of that before. Do they keep them in or out of the fridge?

 

[sunsaver]

I often make hard boiled eggs, and take them directly from the boiling water and pack them in salt. I usually eat them within a couple of weeks. they make great snacks. I usually dont pick any greens until right when im ready to use them. I have been known to put them in a plastic grocery sack, and store them in the ice box. Potatos tomatos, onions, cucumbers, squash, peas that need shelling, or whatever else i bring in justs sits out in baskets, so i'll see them and be forced to eat or cook them or can them. Eggs, sit out and get used within a week (back when i had chickens). The only things i keep in the ice box (obviously i have to put ice in there) is milk, mayo, cheese, any condiments except ketchup or tobasco, and leftovers or meat.

 

[JRmom]

Vaseline????? I've never heard of that before. Do they keep them in or out of the fridge?

Out of the fridge. I only know this because I did some serious research a few years back regarding living onboard a sailboat and even with solar panels, most people don't want to use the electric to run a fridge. *sigh* I'm still hoping I'll get to spend a year cruising the Caribbean.

 

[sunsaver]

I got my ice box design from a site about marine living. I like the ocean, but i would miss my garden.

 

[gettinaclue]

Any berries and veggies go in the fridge.

Fruit like apples, pears, bananas, organges, etc, all get put in a fruit bowl on the island so everyone can see what we have - and hopefully reach for that before they reach for junk.

I keep my eggs on the counter, unwashed in a metal egg basket I got from TSC. I have had them there for about 3 weeks and I haven't had ANY problems what-so-ever in using them. They taste the same. The only 2 times I wash my eggs are: 1. There is poop on the eggs. 2. After I have used the egg, I rinse the shells off on the INSIDE and set them on a paper towel to dry so I can crush them and feed them back to the chickens (takes a day or two to get really brittle and crush well)

We keep the house around 73ish.

I gave my neighbor 2 and a half dozen the other day and warned her I didn't wash my eggs and she looked at me like I was crazy. "Who washes eggs from their own chickens?" was her response LOL.

Lettuce gets wrapped in alum. foil and put on any old shelf in the fridge. It keeps much better this way than putting it in plastic wrap like I used to (hubby taught me that one).

We don't eat spinach, so I can speak for that.

I don't really use the crisper that much. I don't find that it keeps things crisp LOL, and I prefer to have my veggies somewhere easier to reach than all the way at the bottom of the fridge.

 

[old fashioned]

...so everyone can see what we have - and hopefully reach for that before they reach for junk.

That is one of the reasons for this thread

Lettuce gets wrapped in alum. foil and put on any old shelf in the fridge. It keeps much better this way than putting it in plastic wrap like I used to (hubby taught me that one).

I've not heard of that one either but is worth a try!

I don't really use the crisper that much. I don't find that it keeps things crisp LOL, and I prefer to have my veggies somewhere easier to reach than all the way at the bottom of the fridge.

That's another reason for this thread

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I usually keep most veggies in the fridge (but not potatoes or onions), and bananas on the counter.

I don't normally wash eggs for the family, I'd just keep them on the counter, but I have to wash eggs I sell. The washed eggs stay in the fridge.