Whether you are a vegetarian or not, the importance of having vegetables in your diet cannot be overemphasized. Vegetables are a great source of vitamins and various oxidants that help our immune system.
Storing vegetables without plastic is possible. There are alternatives, such as glass jars and paper bags, which are safer for the environment.
Should vegetables be stored in plastic?
No, they shouldn’t. Plastics have invaded almost every sphere of our lives. And why not? They are quite inexpensive and create some comfort when used for packaging various items. However, plastics have their own side effects, and this is why there have been so many anti-plastic campaigns, and rightfully so. There are so many reasons why you should avoid using plastic bags for storing vegetables. I will list some of them below.
- Health hazards: the chemicals used in producing plastic can be problematic for human health. Two chemicals that are quite notorious are bisphenol A and phthalates. These chemicals can leach from the plastic bag into your vegetables. These chemicals have been linked with hormonal cancer, genetic disorders, and infertility. Keeping your vegetables for extended periods inside these kinds of bags will be harmful in the long run. Instead, store the veggies in paper bags.
- Veggies can’t breathe: A common misconception that people have is that putting vegetables in Ziploc air-tight bags will keep them for longer. However, this isn’t true. Your veggies need to breathe, much more like humans. The fact is that when you pack veggies like that, they lack air circulation and can spoil easily. One of the things you will notice, is that it will begin to wilt easily.
- Susceptible to Bacteria: plastic bags are not quite as strong as you think. They can be easily ripped open by pests and bugs. These rips and tears can give room for bacteria and other microbes to rear their ugly heads. Even friction amongst other bags can cause the plastic bags to tear. When these microorganisms get into your food, you know what comes next. Your veggies will end up bad, and you will be forced to bin them.
How do you keep vegetables fresh without a crisper?
When considering how to keep your veggies fresh for longer, refrigeration is usually the way to go. However, there are some different ways you can keep your vegetables fresh for weeks, and even up to a month without using your crisper. This would also work for someone who doesn’t have a refrigerator either. I will list some steps to take when preparing to store veggies for longer.
- Always buy fresh produce: For starters, you should always look for freshly harvested produce. This you can get from a farmer’s market or veggie truck. This will ensure that you can extend how long they will last. Don’t buy already refrigerated vegetables. This will reduce the shelf life. They will need to be constantly refrigerated or else they will spoil.
- Ensure they are properly dried and clean: Before storage, ensure that every form of external moisture is removed. Also remove dirt and any visible pest or critter. You don’t want your vegetables to spoil too soon.
- Store in well ventilated areas: The general rule with regards to vegetables is that you store them in well ventilated areas. Also, ensure that they are stored in dry and dark conditions. This could prevent some of them, like the root vegetables, from sprouting.
- Don’t mix fruits and vegetables: You might think it is right to mix the two. However, this should be largely avoided. The reason for this is due to the fact that some fruits or veggies are classified into those that are ethylene releasers and those that are ethylene sensitive. Ethylene is a gas that hastens ripening and decay. So, if you mix the ethylene producers with those sensitive to this gas, you will make them spoil faster.
Fruits such as apples, apricots, bananas, avocados, etc., are high ethylene producers. On the other hand, cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce, and most leafy and green vegetables are very ethylene-sensitive. Mixing them with fruits will cause them to spoil quickly.
- Other preservation methods: There are other preservation methods that you can use to keep your vegetables fresh. Some of these methods will involve you changing the form the vegetable actually is in, or the introduction of additives to keep them for longer. I will talk about these methods, later in this article. Read on.
What are the techniques for storing vegetables?
There are various techniques that you can use to store your vegetables. You might need to change the form or add some extra ingredients to preserve them. Let’s dive right in.
- Canning: Canning can be used for your vegetables, such as tomatoes. It involves you packing your food into cans. For tomatoes, you will have to properly blend them and dehydrate them before packing them into the cans. The cans are then sterilized under high heat and sealed under pressure. This will prevent the growth of any microbial particles.
Canned vegetables preserve their nutrients for longer too.
- Drying: Drying your vegetables is another way to preserve them. This simply involves dehydrating the vegetables to reduce their moisture content. You can do this in a commercial dryer or make use of the sun. Removing the water starves bacteria of water.
- Fermenting: Fermenting is a great way to introduce good bacteria into your food. These bacteria are great for boosting your health and immune system. The process of fermenting starts with lacto-fermentation. It starts when you add your culture, which could be salt, whey, or any preferred starter culture.
- Pickling: Pickling involves the storage of food in a highly acidic environment. This should be familiar to you. Your cucumbers are very popular items to be pickled. Green peas too can be pickled. Salt and sugar can also be added to help preserve them.
Do fruits and vegetables last longer in glass containers?
Glass containers are very good alternatives to plastic bags. They can actually help your fruits and veggies last longer.
Storing in glass ensures that you are pretty safe too. You need not be worried about any chemical leaching into your fruits or vegetables. This is a plus.
In addition, glass jars prevent your veggies and fruits from being too compacted together. This can give your items proper air circulation and, basically, allow them to breathe. Also, glass jars are more durable. They are not prone to rips and tears. As earlier discussed, these rips and tears are channels through which bacteria and other microorganisms get into your food and start decomposing it.
Do glass containers keep food fresher than plastic?
Glass is a non-porous material. This means that it is not permeable to bacteria or other microorganisms. The other upside is that your fruits will not taste like plastic. As earlier mentioned, plastic has some harmful chemicals that can diffuse into your food. These chemicals can be harmful to your health. Glass containers offer none of that, and your health is perfectly safe.
Is it better to store fruit in glass or plastic?
It is better to use glass for so many reasons, as mentioned earlier in this article.
Can I store cut vegetables in fridge?
Yes, you can. However, they shouldn’t be left for too long. 2-3 days is the maximum.
There are some guidelines that can help you with different vegetables.
- Leafy vegetables: for greens such as spinach, make sure to remove the leaves from the stem. Don’t wash the leaves if you want to store them. Wrap them in a paper towel to keep their moisture intact.
- Root vegetables: Root vegetables like carrots and potatoes are quite tricky, because when cut, they can lose nutrients to oxidation. The best way to store them after being cut, is place them in water and cover them loosely.
Which vegetables should not be refrigerated?
Most root vegetables like potatoes and yams should not be refrigerated. They can develop a higher sugar content. They should be kept in a dark, dry place.
Garlic, onions, and shallots shouldn’t be placed in a refrigerator. They benefit more when placed in a cool, dark, dry place.
Tomatoes also shouldn’t be refrigerated. Placing tomatoes in a fridge can do some weird things to their texture.
Are mesh bags good for storing vegetables?
Yes, they are. Mesh bags can complement your fruits and vegetables perfectly. They can help keep them for longer because they enable the fruits and vegetables to preserve their crunchiness and freshness. Also, they help to release heat and moisture that are responsible for the spoilage of your fruits and vegetables.
Should vegetables be stored in airtight containers?
Yes, they should. This is important, so that external bacteria do not get in, and begin the process of food spoilage.