The vibrant and bustling United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to a brilliant selection of restaurants, eateries and grocery stores for home cooks. The city is a Food lover’s paradise. However, did you know that food waste in the city is a monumental challenge?

With a staggering annual cost of $3.5 billion, approximately 38 percent of the food ends up in the bin. Recent estimates indicate that food wasted is a jaw-dropping 2.7 kilos per day average per capita in the UAE, ranking among the world’s highest.

At home in Dubai, you can help. Mastering the art of food preservation is not only a valuable culinary skill but a means to save money and contribute to a more sustainable future. This article aims to teach you ways to make your groceries last longer, allowing you to reduce waste and save your hard-earned dirhams.

6 Hacks to Extend the Shelf Life of Your Fruits and Veggies

There are plenty of fresh groceries in Dubai supermarkets, giving you a good start at eating fresh. To make the most out of this, here are some methods you can try to keep your fruits and vegetables fresh: 

1.   Store food at the right temperature.

Temperature control is the key to preserving the freshness of your ingredients.

Most fruits do well when stored at room temperature until they ripen and then refrigerated to extend their freshness. This applies to a variety of delicious options like avocados, peaches, and bananas.

But what about vegetables? Well, there’s a little more to consider.

Most foods thrive in the fridge, but some veggies prefer the pleasant climate of your kitchen. These kitchen counter champions include potatoes, garlic, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers.

The best way to extend food's freshness is to store it in a cool, dry place or, if applicable, in the refrigerator or freezer. If your kitchen allows, maintaining a temperature between 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. 

2.   Keep ethylene-producing fruits separate.

Here’s a little-known secret: some fruits release ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone, which can speed up the ripening of other nearby produce.

To keep your groceries fresh and perky, you’ll want to store these ethylene-producing fruits separately to prevent premature ripening in others. Some of the common culprits are:

●     Apples

●     Bananas

●     Melons

●     Peaches

●     Pears

To avoid premature ripening, keep them in these fruits in their own corner of the kitchen.

Note that some vegetables are particularly sensitive to ethylene, so make sure they’re not cozying up to the ethylene producers in your fruit and vegetable basket. These include:

●     Asparagus

●     Onions

●     Collard greens

●     Broccoli 

3.   Rinse berries with vinegar.

Whether they’re plump strawberries or delicate blueberries, berries are a delightful addition to your diet. But they come with their own challenges, primarily the pesky issue of bacteria and mold.

A quick rinse with tap water is a good start to remove visible dirt and grime, especially when it comes to strawberries. However, you can take your freshness game to the next level with a berry good trick: a vinegar rinse:

Mix three parts of water and one part of distilled white vinegar. Use this mixture to give your berries a gentle bath. This vinegar rinse helps remove bacteria and mold spores that can cut short their shelf life.

With this simple hack, your berries will stay pristine and delicious for longer. 

4.   Properly wrap leafy greens.

Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale are the darlings of a healthy diet, but they have a delicate side – they can wilt faster than you can say “salad.”

To keep them crisp and vibrant, wrap these leafy greens in a dry paper towel or cloth before placing them in a reusable storage bag in the fridge. This method offers an added layer of protection and prevents moisture from causing premature wilting. 

5.   Utilize vegetable crisper drawers.

The fresh produce section of your fridge comes with a hidden gem – the vegetable crisper drawers. These drawers are specifically designed to regulate humidity, making them the perfect haven for your vegetables.

To take full advantage of this feature, consider lining the bottom of your refrigerator’s crisper drawer with paper towels. They serve as moisture absorbers, preventing excess humidity that can cause veggies to rot prematurely. 

6.   Keep root vegetables cool and dry.

Root vegetables like carrots and potatoes are culinary staples. To ensure their longevity, store them in a cool, dark, and dry place. This trio of conditions helps them stay fresh for an extended period, ready to become the star of your next meal.

As a rule of thumb, root vegetables should be stored in wire mesh or natural fiber baskets at room temperature, ideally in a low-light environment.

However, there are some key storage methods you can follow for specific root vegetables:

●     Potatoes: ventilated baskets, metal bins, or a sturdy cardboard box with holes on the sides.

●     Onions: a basket or mesh produce bag stored in a low-light, low-temperature environment away from other vegetables.

●     Garlic: a terra cotta pot with a lid and ventilation holes.

●     Carrots: in a zipper bag tucked inside the crisper drawer on your fridge, with the humidity control slider set at the lowest setting.

Unlocking Freshness: A Sustainable Culinary Journey

Mastering proper storage and handling is the key to food freshness and safety. Explore the convenience of ordering fresh vegetables online in the UAE, and you’ll not only elevate your culinary game but also support a more sustainable future. Bon appétit!