How to Store Fruits and Vegetables

Learning how to store fruits and vegetables is a simple thing, but making sure that they are stored properly can keep them fresh longer for you to be able to use. This post will help dive into the different ways to store fruits and vegetables and why that's important.

What are different places where produce should be stored?

Fruits and vegetables can be stored in:
A cool, dark place
At room temperature
In the refrigerator

Why are produce stored in different places (such as the fridge or counter)?

There are a few different reasons as to why you might store a fruit or vegetable at room temperature. It may be to maintain flavor, color, and texture. It also might be to help ripen the fruit.

top view of a pot filled with the ingredients for pasta primavera

What fruits do you not store together?

Fruits produce ethylene gas, a plant hormone that regulates the plant’s growth and development, which causes the fruit to ripen. The effect it has on produce is to cause them to ripen faster or go bad.

Don’t store high ethylene gas producing produce together
Don’t store a high ethylene gas producing and an ethylene sensitive produce together

High ethylene production	Ethylene sensitive produce
Apples	Broccoli
Apricots	Brussels Sprouts
Avocados	Cabbage
Bananas	Cauliflower
Melons	Cucumber
Nectarines	Leafy Vegetables
Peaches	Lettuce
Pears	Pumpkins
Plums	Spinach
Tomatoes	Squash

What produce should be stored in a cool, dark place?

These things should be stored away from direct sunlight, where it’s dry, and well-ventilated.

Garlic
Onions
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes

What produce should be stored at room temperature?

Fruits	Vegetables
Apples (If needed to store less than 7 days)	Cucumber
Bananas	Eggplant
Citrus Fruits	Peppers
Melons	Pumpkins
Pineapple	Tomatoes
Pomegranates	Winter Squash

How should produce be stored at room temperature?

They should be kept out of direct sunlight, in a well-ventilated area, and only washed just before using.

What produce should ripen at room temperature, then be stored in the refrigerator?

Avocados
Kiwi
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums

What produce should be stored in the refrigerator?

Fruits	Vegetables
Apples (if needed to store more than 7 days)	Artichokes
Apricots	Asparagus
Asian Pears	Green Beans
Berries	Beets
Cherries	Broccoli
Grapes	Brussels Sprouts
	Cabbage
	Carrots
	Cauliflower
	Celery
	Leafy Vegetables
	Peas
	Radishes
	Summer Squash
	Sweet Corn

How should produce be stored in the refrigerator?

Place fruits and vegetables in separate, perforated or mesh bags
Place fruits in one drawer and vegetables in another to minimize effects of ethylene gas.

Here are some of my favorite fruit recipes:

Here are some of my favorite vegetable recipes:

And there you have it! One very full guide on how to store fruit and vegetables, where to store it, what to not store together and more. I hope you found it helpful and informative!