1. The foods you should never store together
What do you do when you go grocery shopping? You put all colourful vegetables and fruits together in the cart, without giving it a second thought. And in all probability, you reach home and toss it mindlessly in the refrigerator. What if you were told that certain food items should not be stored together? Here is a lowdown
2. Cucumbers
Do not store anything with the cucumber, they should stand alone. If you store the cucumber with melons, bananas and tomatoes, it produces a certain ethylene gas, which is a ripening agent. And cucumbers are quite sensitive to this gas, as they will spoil faster. So let them on the counter away from these gas releasing fruits. If you have to store it in the fridge, store it alone, away from other fruits.
3. Pumpkin and apples
If you love having pumpkin and squash, it is best to store them away from apples as well as pears. As per the Oregon State University Extension Service, apples and pears will make your yellow squash go bad. They are better stored in temperatures ranging between 50-55 degrees F. This way you can make your pumpkins last up to 6 months.
4. Sweet potatoes, potatoes
The perfect way to store root vegetables is by storing it in a paper bag. These vegetables are rich in nutrients and the best way to store them is separately. You may want to avoid putting them in the refrigerator because root veggies tend to rot faster in a fridge. So it is best to buy smaller portions and keep them outside in a dark dry place.
5. Apples and oranges
You might want to save your fruits together but it is best to store apples and oranges. That is because fruits release ethylene gas, which spoils things faster. It is best to store your apples in the fridge and oranges should be stored away from apples. Also, it is best to put oranges in a mesh bag to allow the air to circulate around them. Remove the plastic bag immediately to make them last long.
6. Onions and potatoes
Most Indian households store onions and potatoes in the same basket but would you still do it if you were told that your onions will make the potatoes turn bad. Store them in an open basket but separately from each other. Storing in paper bags is also a great idea to make them last longer. You can pair onions with garlic. Make sure wherever you store them, it is a well ventilated space.
TNN/timesofindia.indiatimes.com