Vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet and provide a range of nutrients to your body. However, keeping vegetables fresh for a prolonged period can be challenging.

Vegetables can quickly spoil, withering away and losing their taste and nutritional value. To keep your vegetables fresher for longer, below are 30 ways you can try.

1. Keep your fridge clean

An essential key to keeping your vegetables fresh is maintaining a clean fridge. Regularly clean the fridge and remove all items that have expired, like spoiled fruits and vegetables, milk, or eggs.

This helps to prevent cross-contamination and ensures that your vegetables remain fresh.

2. Store vegetables in airtight containers

Vegetables should always be stored in airtight containers to avoid moisture buildup. Excess moisture can cause mold and bacteria buildup, leading to vegetable spoilage.

So, instead of using plastic bags, try using airtight containers that can retain the freshness and flavor of vegetables.

3. Do not wash vegetables before storing them

Washing vegetables before storage can accelerate the spoilage process. Water left on the leaves or vegetables can lead to sogginess and mold formation. Hence, it is advisable to clean your veggies only when you are about to use them.

4. Freeze your vegetables

Freezing is a great way to preserve vegetables for an extended period. You can either freeze vegetables raw by blanching them first or cook them, then freeze for later use.

The process prevents the growth of bacteria, keeping your vegetables fresh for a long time.

5. Keep the fridge temperature at an optimal level

The ideal temperature for storing vegetables in a fridge is between 1-5°C. Anything above that will cause vegetable spoilage, while anything below that will cause freezing and damage to the produce.

6. Use vegetable bags

Produce bags are perfect for storing vegetables and keeping them fresh. The bags come with small ventilation holes that allow for airflow, which helps to keep vegetables fresh and prevent mold formation.

7. Keep vegetables in the crisper drawer

Most fridges come with a crisper drawer that is perfect for storing vegetables. The drawer controls humidity levels, and you can adjust its settings to maintain ideal conditions for your vegetables.

8. Use a paper towel to absorb excess moisture

Excess moisture on vegetables causes rot and bacterial growth. By placing a paper towel in vegetable containers or bags, you can absorb excess moisture and maintain the freshness of your vegetables.

9. Store vegetables separately

Storing vegetables separately prevents cross-contamination and helps to preserve their individual flavors. Vegetables like onions, tomatoes, and potatoes cause other vegetables to spoil faster, so it’s best to store them separately.

10. Keep vegetables away from ethylene-producing fruits

Some fruits like bananas, apples, and avocados produce ethylene gas that can speed up the ripening process in vegetables. Hence, it’s essential to store vegetables away from ethylene-producing fruits to prevent premature spoilage.

11. Store mushrooms in a paper bag

Mushrooms tend to go bad quickly due to excess moisture. To keep them fresh, wrap them in a paper bag and store them in the fridge. The paper bag helps to absorb extra moisture and prevents mold formation.

12. Keep leafy greens fresh with a damp towel

Leafy greens like lettuce, kale, and spinach can wilt and wither quickly. To keep them fresh, wrap them in a damp towel and refrigerate in a plastic bag. The towel helps to maintain moisture and keeps the leafy greens fresh for longer.

13. Store carrots in sand

Carrots tend to dry out and go limp when stored in the fridge. To prevent this, store them in a container filled with sand. The sand helps to retain moisture, keeping carrots firm and fresh for longer.

14. Store bell peppers with a damp cloth

Bell peppers can quickly turn unappetizing if stored incorrectly. To keep them fresh, wrap the peppers in a damp cloth and store them in a plastic bag. The damp cloth helps to maintain moisture levels, ensuring that the peppers remain crisp and fresh.

15. Store herbs with a glass of water

Herbs like cilantro, parsley, and basil are delicate and can quickly go bad in the fridge. To keep them fresh, store them in a glass of water, like a flower vase, and cover them with a plastic bag.

The glass of water provides moisture, making sure that the herbs remain fresh for an extended period.

16. Store tomatoes upside down

Tomatoes tend to spoil from the stem end. Storing them upside down helps to prevent air from entering and inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes spoiling.

17. Store onions and garlic in a mesh bag

Onions and garlic require proper ventilation to remain fresh. Mesh bags provide airflow, helping to prevent rotting and sprouting. Ensure not to store onions and garlic near vegetables like potatoes and cucumbers, as they can cause them to spoil faster.

18. Store broccoli in a damp cloth

Broccoli requires moisture to remain fresh, making it easy to dry out in the fridge. To prevent that, wrap the broccoli in a damp cloth and store it in an airtight container. The damp cloth ensures that the broccoli stays moist and fresh.

19. Remove the tops of root vegetables

When you leave the tops on root vegetables, like carrots and beets, they tend to wilt and lose their taste. Removing the tops before storing them, helps to preserve their freshness for long periods.

20. Store avocados in a paper bag

Avocados ripen quickly when left in the open, making them go bad faster. To preserve freshness, store them in a paper bag. The bag helps to absorb moisture, preventing the avocado from ripening too fast.

21. Don’t pre-cut vegetables

Pre-cut vegetables lose moisture, making them dry, and they spoil quickly. It’s best to cut and slice veggies only when you’re ready to cook them.

22. Blanch vegetables before freezing

Blanching vegetables before freezing them, helps to kill bacteria and enzymes that can cause spoilage. Bring water to a boil, and quickly dip the vegetables in for a few seconds, then plunge them in ice water before freezing them.

23. Store corn in the fridge with husks on

Corn loses flavor and moisture quickly when not stored correctly. To keep it fresh, store corn with the husk on and keep it refrigerated. The husk helps to retain moisture, prolonging the freshness of the corn.

24. Store potatoes in a cool, dark place

Storing potatoes in a cool, dark place, like a pantry or basement, helps to prevent sprouting. Light can cause potatoes to produce chlorophyll, which turns them green and makes them poisonous.

25. Store asparagus in a basin of water

Asparagus dries out quickly in the fridge, making them lose their flavor. By trimming the stems and placing them in a basin of water, the vegetables stay fresh and crisp.

26. Store celery in aluminum foil

Celery has a high water content and tends to lose moisture in the fridge, making them soft and limp. Wrapping celery in foil helps to retain moisture, keeping them crunchy and fresh.

27. Store citrus fruits in a mesh bag

Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges need proper ventilation to avoid mold formation. Storing them in a mesh bag provides airflow, keeping them fresh for longer periods.

28. Store pumpkins in a dry place

Pumpkins require a dry place to remain fresh. Moisture can cause rotting, making them spoil fast. Store them in a dry, cool place, like a pantry.

29. Store beets in a sealed container

Beets tend to spoil faster when left in the open, causing them to become mushy and lose their flavor. Storing them in a sealed container helps to retain moisture, ensuring that they remain firm and fresh for a more extended period.

30. Store cucumbers at room temperature

Storing cucumbers in the fridge tends to speed up the ripening process, making them spoil quicker. Instead, store them outside the fridge, away from direct sunlight, to maintain their crispness and freshness.