How to Store Vegetables So They Stay Fresh Longer
Updated: Aug. 24, 2022
You should not store all vegetables in the fridge. Preserve fresh picked flavor with this handy guide.
Which Vegetables Should You Store in the Fridge?
As farmers markets and your vegetable garden reach their peak, your kitchen overflows with produce. You need to know how to store vegetables to keep them fresh, so they don’t go to waste. Learn which veggies belong on the counter, which belong in the fridge, and how long all that freshness keeps.
Artichokes
Refrigerate unwashed artichokes up to four days. Check out 13 spring vegetables to grow for an early harvest.
Asparagus
Refrigerate unwashed spears in a sealed bag or beeswax wrap for up to four days. Learn how and when to thin vegetable seedlings.
Beans
Store unwashed in a sealed plastic bag or a covered container in the refrigerator crisper drawer up to three days. Discover the top 10 vegetables that grow well in shade.
Beets
Cut off greens about 2 inches above the beets. Refrigerate greens separately in a sealed plastic bag or storage container up to three days. Refrigerate uncooked beets in an open plastic bag up to two weeks. Follow these tips for saving tomato and veggie seeds from your harvest.
Broccoli
Store unwashed in an open plastic bag or container in the refrigerator up to four days. Psst—plant these fast-growing vegetables you can harvest quickly.
Brussels Sprouts
Refrigerate unwashed sprouts in an open plastic bag or container for up to three days. Extend the harvest with the top 10 fall vegetables.
Cabbage
Refrigerate unwashed heads of cabbage for up to two weeks. These perennial vegetables grow back each year.
Carrots
Trim the tops and root ends. Refrigerate unwashed and unpeeled in a sealed plastic bag for one to two weeks. Learn why you should grow heirloom veggies.
Cauliflower
Refrigerate unwashed in an open plastic bag up to five days. New to growing your own food? Check out the top 10 easy-to-grow vegetables.
Chard
Store unwashed leaves in a sealed plastic bag or reusable bag for two or three days. Check out the 10 best peppers to grow in your veggie garden.
Corn
Don’t store this vegetable for too long. Sweet corn tastes best when eaten quickly. Refrigerate unshucked ears in an open plastic bag; use within two days. Don’t miss these harvest-themed gifts for vegetable gardeners.
Cucumbers
Refrigerate unwashed cucumbers for up to two weeks. From carrots to cucumbers, here’s your guide to veggie-harvest times.
Eggplant
Refrigerate unwashed in an open plastic bag up to three days. Check out the top tomato growing tips for the ultimate crop, and discover 6 genius ways to use up extra tomatoes and veggies.
Greens
Refrigerate unwashed greens in a sealed plastic bag up to three days. Check out the best microgreens kits to grow indoors.
Kale
Wrap in a moist paper towel or place in a sealed plastic bag, then refrigerate up to one week. Learn how to grow colorful and edible ornamental kale.
Kohlrabi
Refrigerate unwashed in an open bag for two to four weeks. Learn how to grow, harvest and use chives.
Okra
Refrigerate unwashed okra pods loosely wrapped in a plastic bag for only two or three days. Check out the top 10 herbs to grow for cooking.
Onions
Keep onions in a dark, well ventilated area up to three weeks. Check out the 10 seed catalogs every gardener needs.
Parsnips
Store parsnips in a cool, relatively humid location for two to four weeks. Here’s how to create a windowsill herb garden.
Peas, Garden
Refrigerate unwashed, unshelled pea pods in an open plastic bag up to two days. Follow these tips for freezing garden vegetables.
Peas, Snow and Sugar Snap
Place in the refrigerator unwashed pea pods in an open plastic bag up to two days. Stock up on canning supplies to preserve your fruits and veggies.
Peppers, Chili
Refrigerate unwashed chili peppers wrapped in paper towels up to two weeks. Discover the top 10 best tomatoes to grow.
Peppers, Sweet
Refrigerate unwashed peppers for up to five days. Learn the right way to ripen green tomatoes.
Potatoes
Keep potatoes in a dark, cool, dry, well-ventilated area for up to two months. Do not store these vegetables with onions or in the refrigerator. Can you eat green potatoes?
Pumpkin
Keep a pumpkin in a cool, dry place up to one month. Learn how to grow your own pumpkins and gourds.
Radishes
Remove the leaves and roots and refrigerate unwashed whole radishes in a sealed, airtight plastic bag for about a week. Check out the top 10 dwarf fruit trees for small spaces.
Rhubarb
Refrigerate whole stalks up to three weeks in sealed bags; keep cut-up stalks in a sealed bag for two to three weeks. Learn how to harvest rhubarb the right way (hint – don’t cut it).
Rutabagas
Store these root vegetables in a cool, humid location for four to six months. Did you know: Tomatoes make great sunflower companion plants.
Spinach
Refrigerate unwashed spinach leaves in a sealed plastic bag up to five days. Psst—roses love garlic: here’s why.
Squash, Summer
Store these vegetables in the refrigerator unwashed up to four days. Discover 5 tasty ways to deal with zucchini overload.
Squash, Winter
Store unwashed winter squash in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area up to four weeks. Stock up on seed starter kits and supplies to jump-start your garden.
Sweet Potatoes
Keep unwashed sweet potatoes in a dark, cool, dry, well-ventilated area for up to one week. Eat the rainbow with 11 vegetables of different colors.
Tomatoes
Store unwashed tomatoes at room temperature until ripe; keep away from windows and direct sunlight. Should you grow heirloom or hybrid tomatoes?
Turnips
Refrigerate unwashed turnips for up to a week. Next, check out the best mushroom growing kits and logs.
Originally Published: June 08, 2022
