How I Wash and Store My Produce

Thanks to a reader question, today's post is all about cleaning and storing your produce!  I have been wanting to try out video on the blog, so here's my first vlog (video blog) with a video tutorial on what happens to my produce when it gets home from the store.  Check it out and then read below for my takeaways on washing and storing your produce.


Stuff to Remember When Washing and Storing Your Produce:

1. Wash it when you buy it: I like to clean my produce the minute I get home from the grocery store so everything is clean and ready to go when I want to use it.  This makes things quicker and easier, especially for my morning juicing.

2. Buy what you need for the week: To make #1 more efficient, I plan what I will need for the week and buy it all during my weekly grocery trip.

3. Store properly: Check out this guide from Vegetarian Times for storing fruits and vegetables. I have wire baskets in my pantry for onions, garlic, avocados, tomatoes and potatoes that fair better outside of the refrigerator.  In my refrigerator, I organize my produce in drawers categorically:

1 for citrus (lemons, grapefruits, limes and oranges)
1 for non citrus (apples, berries, grapes, peaches, etc.)
2 for my greens
1 for herbs and "dipping" veggies (celery, carrots, snap peas, cucumbers)
1 for other veggies (broccoli, Brussels, etc.)

I store produce that needs to be contained, such as broccoli, in these great produce bags from Crate and Barrel (I also use them for grocery shopping instead of those plastic ones at the store).  I have also used these great Debbie Meyer Green Bags.  I keep my fruits stacked loose in their drawers (apples, oranges, lemons, etc.)

4. Take some pre-washed help: Because of the amount of greens I go through in a week (juices and salads), I purchase pre-washed, organic bags of kale, spinach, and other greens for my week.  This is a lifesaver.  To keep opened bags fresh as I use them during the week, I use a bag clip to close the plastic bags, removing the air first and rolling down the bag as much as possible.

That's it!  Wash, store, and it's ready to use when you need it.  Thank you, Lisa, for the question! Please keep them coming!