The short answer
- Some fruit gives off ethylene, a ripening gas: keep it away from leafy greens, broccoli and cucumbers.
- Tomatoes, bananas, avocados, potatoes and onions keep best out of the fridge; ripe fruit goes in.
- Wash berries and greens just before eating, not before storing.
- Cut produce and herbs in a vacuum container: raw vegetables 18–20 days instead of 5, herbs 7–14 instead of 2–3 (LAVA's figures).
The gas that ripens everything
Apples, bananas, avocados, pears, stone fruit and tomatoes give off ethylene, a natural gas that speeds up ripening. That's useful for ripening an avocado in a paper bag with a banana, and bad for the leafy greens, broccoli and cucumbers next to them, which yellow and soften faster. Keep the two groups apart.
Where to keep what
| Where | What |
|---|---|
| Bench, out of the sun | Tomatoes, bananas, unripe avocados and stone fruit, whole pumpkin |
| Cool, dark and dry | Potatoes, onions, garlic: apart from each other |
| Fridge crisper | Leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, capsicum, zucchini, cucumbers |
| Fridge, once ripe | Avocados, stone fruit, pears |
| Fridge, in a container | Berries, cut fruit and vegetables, herbs |
General storage guidance; ripe fruit lasts longer in the fridge.
Where the vacuum helps
Cut and prepared produce
Half a capsicum, chopped vegetables for the week, cut fruit: in a vacuum container they dry out and brown more slowly. LAVA's figures for raw vegetables: 18–20 days sealed, against about 5.
Helps: ES-Line containers · G-Line glass container
Herbs
Dry herbs well, then seal them in a container: 7–14 days instead of 2–3 (LAVA's figures). Soft herbs such as basil also keep upright in a glass of water on the bench.
Not for everything
Raw mushrooms, onions and garlic are better not sealed, and broccoli and cabbage are blanched first. Which foods can you vacuum seal?
Small habits
- 1
Wash just before eatingMoisture in storage speeds up mould, especially on berries and greens.
- 2
Eat the fast ones firstBerries, greens and herbs go first; apples, carrots and pumpkin can wait.
- 3
Stock up in seasonFreeze the surplus: summer vegetables
LAVA AustraliaOfficial LAVA distributor and vacuum-packaging specialists since 2018.
