Fridge Hack Extends Produce Life 3X Longer
Do you hate opening up your fridge only to find your once crisp produce has gone limp and soggy? No matter how carefully you store your fruits and vegetables, they never seem to stay fresh as long as you’d like.
But what if we told you there was a simple fridge hack that can extend your produce’s shelf life to 3 weeks or more? No more finding moldy berries or shriveled cucumbers at the back of the crisper!
This effective trick requires no special equipment – just some paper towels and perforated bins you likely already own. In this post, you’ll learn the science behind why produce spoils quickly and how this crisper drawer hack lets you foil the process, for pennies on the dollar.
Why Does Produce Spoil So Quickly?
To understand why this trick works so well, it helps to know the main factors in play when produce goes bad:
- Ethylene gas – this ripening agent is naturally emitted by fruits and accelerates overripening and rotting in nearby produce.
- Moisture loss – water evaporating from vegetables causes wilting and breakdown of crisp texture
- Poor air circulation – lack of airflow increases concentration of ethylene and moisture.
Standard fridge crisper drawers try to control these, but fall short once ethylene and condensation buildup kick into high gear.
Step-By-Step: The Crisper Drawer Hack
With a few easy tweaks to your existing drawers, you can optimize conditions so your goodies stay fresher longer:
Supplies Needed
- Paper towels
- Perforated plastic bins
Instructions
- Line crisper drawers with sheets of paper towels
- Place produce in plastic bins, then set bins in the lined drawer
- Enjoy your crispy fruits and veggies for up to 3 weeks!
Why This Fridge Hack Works Wonders
Lining the drawer allows moisture to get absorbed rather than pool around your greens. Perforations in the plastic allow just the right amount of air circulation. This regulation of moisture and airflow keeps ethylene gas from building up and decelerating spoilage.
The result? Your snap peas, berries, and broccoli maintain that just-picked freshness you love, saving you time and money on groceries.
Getting The Most From This Crisper Trick
While this hack slows spoiling on all produce, some hold up better than others. Hardy veggies like carrots, peppers, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts stay crisp for 2-3 weeks easily. More delicate berries and herbs will still last longer than normal.
A few best practices to get that 21 day longevity include:
- Checking for molding bits and removing immediately
- Keeping high ethylene producers separate
- Securing lids on bins so moisture is controlled
With this crisper trick in your back pocket, you can save surplus fresh produce for prep later in the week rather than trashing overripe odds and ends. Your future smoothies, stir fries, and meal prep days will thanks you!
Questions About The Crisper Drawer Hack?
What if I find mold starting to grow?
Catching mold early is key. Check every 3-4 days and remove anything suspect immediately. This way you can salvage the surrounding produce.
What if my fridge doesn’t have typical crisper drawers?
No worries, you can use any storage bins that allow air flow. Just be sure to line the bottom with paper towels and separate ethylene producing fruits from veggies.
Can I use this for cut fruit and already ripe produce?
While results may vary, it’s still worth trying out this hack if you have existing ripe fruits and veggies or leftovers needing storage. You’ll likely at least double the normal lifespan after cutting or cooking.
Start EnJOYing Fresher, Crispier Produce
We don’t know about you, but we’re tired of throwing away spoiled groceries and constantly rebuying. With a produce bill totaling hundreds of dollars over the course of a year, making our fridge work smarter for us is a no brainer!
With this stupidly simple crisper drawer hack, you’ll have the convenience of produce that lasts for weeks rather than days. That means more money back in your pocket, less wasted food in the trashcan, and delicious fruits and veggies at your fingertips anytime a recipe calls.
So skip those limp celery sticks and moldy berries for good – let us know in the comments how long you’re able to keep your produce crispy fresh using this hack!