Apples produce ethylene gas which causes other food to ripen or decay. Keep apples away from fruits and veggies- if they are in the fridge, make sure they are in a plastic bag. If you want to speed up the ripening of bananas, avocadoes, pears, tomatoes, or soft BC tree fruit, put them into a paper bag with a ripe apple. Check on the fruit every day so it doesn’t over-ripen. Apples can make potatoes, onions, and garlic sprout, and will make carrots bitter. Ripe bananas also produce ethylene gas.
Special produce storage bags, such as EvertFresh, are a good investment as they greatly prolong the life of your fruits and veggies. The plastic of EvertFresh bags contains a natural mineral which absorbs the gases vegetables emit as they are stored, making them last considerably longer.
Back to Storage Tips - Main Page
|