Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : April 3, 2015 3:45 PM IST
Eating vegetables is great for your health, it helps your digestion, makes your blood circulate better, make your skin glow, keeps allergies at bay and even helps detoxify your body. But when we buy vegetables, we usually shop for at least a week's supply, and rarely do we manage to finish all of them at once. So, if you are wondering how you can store your vegetables so they stay fresh for longer, here is a quick guide for you.
While buying vegetables:
When you are at the store or at your local bhajiwala, make sure you buy one part of the vegetables that are ready to eat and the rest of them slightly raw (or those that will ripen in a few days). This is a good strategy since it helps keep your vegetables from rotting quickly.
In the case of green leafy vegetables like dhaniya patta, methi leaves, or even spinach leaves buy those that look green and fresh. Spread the bundle and see if there are any yellowish leaves in the centre. This is a sign that greens are not fresh.
Once you take the vegetables home:
Make sure you unpack the vegetables as soon as you get home. If they are left in plastic bags, the heat and moisture tend to rot the vegetables faster. Now, wash all the vegetables separately, making sure you do not wash the green leafy vegetables.
Tips for root vegetables:
In the case of vegetables like carrots, beetroot, radish etc. cut off the leaves of the vegetables, leaving a little bit of the stem intact. This will avoid the vegetables from wilting and becoming soft since the leaves tend to leech out water from the carrot, beetroot or radish. Now rinse the vegetables and dry them on a paper towel or old newspaper. Spread them out so they dry evenly.
For leafy vegetables:
First cut off the string that helps hold the bunch together. Now spread the leaves out and separate the stem from the leaves. In the case of dhaniya, you can choose to keep tender stems but break off the root portion of the leaves. For spinach simply spread them out and get rid of any rotten bits. For mint leaves and methi remove the leaves and throw away the stems.
Now place them separately in a bowl and wash off all the excess soil and dirt. Make sure you wash these vegetables well since rotting or dirty leaves can cause food poisoning. Once they are washed well, spread them out on a paper towel or old newspaper and allow them to air dry.
For tomatoes and cucumber:
Wash the vegetables well and dry them as you would the other vegetables.
Packaging:
Once you have segregated all the vegetables, take plastic bags or zip lock bags and line them with paper towel or news paper (Take a longish piece of paper and fold it in half. Now fold the bottom portion so that it is closed off. Now, place this in the plastic bag). Next, place the vegetables in the bag, making sure they are dry. Seal the bag such that there is minimum air in them.
Tip: The vegetables should be well wrapped in the paper even at the top. This helps absorb any excess moisture and prevents them from ripening too fast.
For green leafy vegetables:
In the case of leafy vegetables, after they have dried, place them on a piece of kitchen towel and wrap them tightly. Remember that they should not come into contact with the air as they will turn brown and wilt. You can choose to tie a rubber band around the stack to keep the paper from opening up.
Now place all the vegetables in your vegetable tray. You can choose to label the bags with left over book labels if you like, but make sure you write on them with a permanent marker. Avoid writing on the bags directly with a permanent marker, because once in the fridge, the marker will wipe off.
You may also like to read:
For more natural remedies, check out our natural remedies section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
Disclaimer: The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.
