In France, 25% of purchased food ends up wasted. Like many, I hate throwing away food I've bought—it's costly, environmentally harmful, and entirely avoidable.
Fresh fruits and vegetables spoil quickly, but these 20 practical tips, tested in real kitchens, can extend their life significantly.
Table of Contents
- 1. Store avocados with an onion to prevent browning
- 2. Wrap banana stems in plastic wrap to extend freshness
- 3. Store peanut butter upside down for even oil distribution
- 4. Soak berries in a vinegar-water mix to prevent mold
- 5. Keep onions and garlic in breathable bags
- 6. Freeze herbs in oil-filled ice cube trays
- 7. Reuse cheese packaging to seal and preserve it
- 8. Store potatoes with apples to stop sprouting
- 9. Wrap celery and broccoli in foil for up to a month
- 10. Freeze bread to maintain freshness for days
- 11. Place an apple near potatoes to prolong their life
- 12. Use paper towels with lettuce to absorb moisture
- 13. Top cakes with bread slices to retain moisture
- 14. Add halved corks to fruit baskets for longevity
- 15. Cover cut onions with butter to keep them fresh
- 16. Store tomatoes at room temperature in a bowl
- 17. Submerge lemons in water-filled jars
- 18. Preserve olives in olive oil jars
- 19. Stand asparagus in water like a bouquet
- 20. Refrigerate eggs in their carton, away from odors
1. Store avocados with an onion to prevent them from turning black
Follow the illustration for this simple trick.
2. Wrap the stems of bananas with cellophane to keep them fresh longer
Follow the illustration for this simple trick.
3. Store peanut butter upside down so the oil distributes evenly
This prevents a hard layer from forming at the bottom. Follow the illustration.
4. Prevent berries from rotting by soaking in white vinegar and water
Follow the illustration for details.
5. Store onions and garlic in breathable bags
Follow the illustration for this trick.
6. Freeze herbs in an ice cube tray with oil
Follow the illustration.
7. Reuse cheese packaging ends to reseal and preserve
Follow the illustration.
8. Store potatoes with apples to prevent sprouting
Follow the illustration.
9. Wrap celery and broccoli in foil for up to 1 month of freshness
Follow the illustration.
10. Freeze bread to keep it fresh for days
Follow the illustration.
11. Place an apple next to potatoes to keep them longer
Follow the illustration.
12. Absorb lettuce moisture with paper towels for crunchier greens
Follow the illustration.
13. Place a bread slice atop cake to maintain moisture
Follow the illustration.
14. Add halved corks to fruit baskets for longer freshness
Follow the illustration.
15. Cover half onions with butter to extend freshness
Follow the illustration.
16. Keep tomatoes in a bowl at room temperature, not the fridge
Follow the illustration.
17. Store lemons in water-filled jars for juicier freshness
Follow the illustration.
18. Preserve olives in jars of olive oil
Follow the illustration.
19. Stand asparagus in a jar of water
Follow the illustration.
20. Refrigerate eggs in their carton, away from strong odors
Follow the illustration.
