You’ve probably heard that a little squeeze of lemon juice can keep apple slices from looking unappetizing. When fruit is tossed into the bag, concentrated ethylene gas helps it ripen faster. Speed up ripeningīe a total magician and morph a banana from green to yellow (or a peach from crunchy to juicy) with the help of a paper bag. Both tactics block ethylene gases from releasing out of the stem, thereby ripening the fruit too fast. Keep bananas fresh for longer by wrapping the end of the bunch with plastic wrap. Flavor-related quality attributes of ripe tomatoes are not significantly affected under two common household conditions.
Oh, and the advice to never store a tomato in the fridge? Debunked! Recent research revealed that the method of storage (fridge versus countertop) didn’t significantly affect taste or juiciness of tomatoes. This prevents air from entering and moisture from exiting the scar where the tomato once attached to the vine. Store tomatoes stem end down to keep them from spoiling as quickly.
Keep potatoes whiteĬover shredded or diced potatoes with cold water before cooking to prevent the spuds from turning that gross grayish/brown caused by the release of a starch that makes them oxidize.