Enough of shopping with the full and colorful fruit fruit, but after a few days some fruits begin to wither or gain blemishes. The cause may not be in food quality, but in the way they are stored. According to the News to the Minute Portal, the proximity between certain fruits and vegetables can accelerate your maturity and even cause early rot.
It is not always enough to decide whether a food should go to the fridge or to be at room temperature. There are specific combinations that should be avoided, explains the site, and knowing these simple rules can prolong the freshness of fruit and vegetables for several days.
According to the same source, the main responsible for this effect is ethylene gas, a natural substance released by many fruits, such as tomatoes, banana or melon. This gas acts as a ripening agent, accelerating the chemical reactions that make food sweeter and softer, but also damage faster.
Some products, such as cucumbers, are especially sensitive to this gas. Therefore, the publication advises to keep them separated from ethylene release fruits. If they are kept close to bananas or tomatoes, for example, cucumbers may lose firmness and flavor in a short time.
Apples and oranges are not good neighbors
Another common mistake is to gather apples and oranges in the same basket. According to the same source, apples release a significant amount of ethylene, while oranges are particularly vulnerable to it. To prevent both from spoiling, it is recommended to store the apples in the fridge and the oranges in a cloth bag, also refrigerated, but in separate compartments.
The same applies to pumpkins, which should be kept in cool and dry places, but never with apples or pears, otherwise they are yellowish and deteriorate faster.
Separating bananas, potatoes and onions makes a difference
Bananas are another classic example. In the bunch they all mature at the same time, which reduces their durability. The publication recommends separating each banana and, if possible, wrap their foot with a cling film. Thus, ripening is delayed and consumption can be spaced for more days.
Also potatoes and onions should not be stored together. Both need fresh and dry environments, but onions released compounds can make potatoes rot faster, explains the.
The avocado trick: mature or conserve
In the case of avocados, it all depends on the maturation point. If they are green and need to accelerate the process, keep them with bananas. The ethylene released by these will help to mature them. But if the goal is the opposite, conserve a mature avocado longer, the solution goes through it in the fridge. The cold slows down and prolongs the life of the fruit, the same source refers.
Small adjustments in the way it organizes the kitchen can make a big difference in food durability. After all, keeping well is also a way to save and reduce food waste.
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