Olive Oil: Pantry (Not Refrigerator)
Buy olive oil in dark, light-blocking glass bottles and store somewhere dark and cool–sunlight will hasten its demise. Don’t put it in the fridge, where condensation (water droplets forming inside the bottle) can dilute the flavor.
Cucumbers: Counter (Not Refrigerator)
Keep uncut cukes at room temperature to prevent chilling injuries like accelerated decay. Don’t store near bananas or tomatoes, which release a ripening agent called ethylene gas.
Celery: Refrigerator in Foil (Not Refrigerator in Plastic)
Wrap celery in foil and put it in the crisper drawer, advises Jack Bishop, Editorial Director of America’s Test Kitchen. “The foil allows the ethylene produced by the celery to escape,” says Bishop. If it’s wrapped in plastic, the gas gets trapped and makes celery stalks limp and bendable.
Avocados: Counter (Not Refrigerator)
Avocados won’t ripen in the cold, so leave the hard ones at room temperature for 4-5 days. Sprinkle cut, ripe avocados with lemon or lime juice, place in an air-tight container or cover with clear plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to a day.
Parsley: In Water (Not Plastic Baggie)
Treat parsley like a bouquet of flowers. Trim the stems, stick them in a small glass of water, and cover the leaves loosely with a plastic bag or wrap, recommends Sara Hass, RDN, LDN, a Chicago-based consultant chef, dietitian and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson. Secure the bag around the glass with a rubber band and change the water every other day.
Strawberries: Refrigerator, Unwashed (Not Refrigerator, Washed)**
To prolong freshness, refrigerate unwashed berries in their original containers. Rinse in cold water before eating.
**That said, I personally recommend washing a few and putting them in a clear container in the middle of your refrigerator so you’re more likely to eat them before they go bad. While dry, unwashed berries may last longer, I’d rather you wash them, see them, and eat them before they spoil. That’s right, I’m encouraging you to break the rules!
P.S.: You can freeze fresh strawberries, too. Just rinse in cool water, dry completely, and store in sealed containers.
And now you know.
source: carolinekaufman.com
