Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Now that garden season is here, here are some tips on how to store fresh food.
Some fruits give off a gas called ethylene and unless you WANT your fruits and vegetables to ripen quicker, you need to keep them away from your produce.
Here are the foods that contain ethylene and should NOT be refrigerated:

• Avocados (ripen on the counter, then refrigerate)
• Apples 
• Bananas
• Tomatoes (if refrigerated, they will become mealy and will have less flavor

If you would like to print the complete chart here is the link to the pdf file:

More Food Tips:

POTATOES AND SWEET POTATOES	When potatoes are chilled, the starches in the flesh change to sugars. This will make the potatoes taste sweet when cooked.Make sure to keep potatoes and onions separate when stored.
HONEY	Honey will thicken and crystallize if stored in the refrigerator, even after opening. If this does happen, you can place the opened jar of honey in a pan of hot water and it will return to a pourable, smooth texture.
OILS EXCEPT NUT OILS	Most oils will thicken and turn cloudy if stored in the refrigerator. The exception is nut oils, which can turn rancid very quickly and should be stored chilled.
BAKED COOKIES	Do not refrigerate cookies if they do not contain a cream or custard filling. They will go stale much faster and lose quality quickly if stored in the refrigerator.
PEANUT BUTTER	Read the label on the peanut butter you buy. Some fresh, organic brands do require refrigeration. But most ordinary peanut butters should be stored, tightly covered, in the pantry, even after opening.
BREADS	The starch in breads will change structure under refrigeration (called retrogradation), making the bread texture tougher. Breads also lose moisture faster in the dry refrigerator environment. Do not refrigerate breads until the label says to.
CHOCOLATE	When chocolate is kept too cold, and is then brought to room temperature, condensation can make sugar condense on the top of the product, forming a rough surface called sugar bloom. Unless directed on the label, store chocolate, tightly wrapped, in a cool cupboard.
ONIONS	Do not store onions in the refrigerator. They should be stored in an open container in a cool, dry place - away from potatoes!