Produceology

 Produce Storage Tips

The Three Pillars of Produce Freshness, Temperature. Your refrigerator controls and regulates temperature. Ideally set it between 32 fahrenheit and 38 fahrenheit. Humidity. Humidity is controlled through your refrigerator. VeggieZips Produce bags help enhance this. Ethylene Gas. Both the Classic and the Carbon Bluapple packets absorb ethylene gas emitted by produce as it ripens. Produce Freshness. By properly using Veggiezips, to compliment Bluapple, you complete the three pillars of produce freshness. Each pillar is necessary to maximize freshness and extend produce life.

There are three pillars that control produce freshness: Temperature, Humidity, and Ethylene Gas. Bluapple products manage two of them! Refrigerators handle the temperature, VeggieZips with HydroLiners control humidity when necessary, and Bluapple Produce Savers absorb ethylene gas. FreshMats, as an added bonus, provide cushion to reduce bruising and allow airflow around the whole produce item.

Below, we have designed a comprehensive list of helpful produce storage tips! You can search for the produce type you are interested in storing OR you can download or print copies for easy reference!

Key Storage Tips

  1. Buy before it's ripe
     If you buy produce at peak ripeness, your window to consume is very short. Bluapple Produce Saver slows down the ripening process but does not stop it. Once it hits the peak, there’s not much that can be done.
  2. Keep produce in cooler temperatures
     While there are some exceptions, most produce benefits from cooler temperatures. Cooler temps slow down ethylene gas production in most produce types.
  3. Don’t wash before storing
    Washing produce before storing can result in mold or bacteria growth. Store produce unwashed and wash when you are ready to eat!
  4. Don’t overcrowd
    Fruits and vegetables need to BREATHE! Most (there are few exceptions, but not many) produce needs airflow. Don’t overcrowd your crisper drawers. Allow for airflow around each fruit or vegetable and try not to keep things in sealed containers or bags.
  5. Separate Fruits and Vegetables
    When it comes to emitting ethylene gas – fruits generally give off more ethylene gas and are less sensitive to it, while vegetables give off less ethylene gas and are more sensitive to it.

Want a printable version?

Produce Search

acerola, barbados cherry Acerola, Barbados Cherry
acorn squash Acorn squash
african horned melon African Horned Melon, Kiwano
anise, fennel Anise, Fennel
apples Apple Varieties
apricot Apricot
artichoke Artichoke
arugula, rocket Arugula, Rocket
asian pear Asian Pear
asparagus Asparagus
avacado Avocado
babaco, mountain papaya Babaco, Mt Papaya
bananas Bananas
basil Basil
bay leaves Bay Leaves
fava beans, broad beans Beans - Fava, Broad
lima beans Beans - Lima
long beans Beans - Long, Yard-long
beans - snap, wax, green Beans - Snap, Wax, Green
beans, winged bean Beans - Winged
beets, beetroot Beet, Beetroot
bittermelon, bitter gourd Bittermelon, bitter gourd
black salsify, scorzonera Black Salsify, scorzonera
blackberries, dewberries Blackberry, Dewberry
blueberries Blueberry
bok choy Bok Choy
boysenberries Boysenberry
breadfruit Breadfruit
broccoli Broccoli
brussels sprouts Brussels Sprouts
butternut squash Butternut squash
cabbage Cabbage
cactus fruit, prickly pear Cactus Fruit, Prickly Pear
cactus pads, nopalitos Cactus Pads, Nopalitos
cantaloupe melon Cantaloupe
carambola, starfruit Carambola, Starfruit
carrots Carrots
casaba Casaba
cashew apple Cashew Apple
Cassava, yucca, manioc Cassava, Yucca, Manioc
Cauliflower Cauliflower
Celeriac Celeriac
Celery Celery
Chard Chard
Chayote Chayote
Cherimoya, custard apple Cherimoya, Custard Apple
Cherries Cherry
Chinese artichoke Chinese Artichoke
Chinese broccoli, gailan Chinese Broccoli, Gailan
Chives Chives
Cilantro, coriander Cilantro, Coriander
Coconut Coconut
Collard greens Collard Greens
Corn Corn
Cranberries Cranberry
Crenshaw Crenshaw
Cucumber Cucumber
Red and black currants Currants
Daikon radish Daikon, Oriental Radish
Date Date
Dill Dill
Dragon fruit Dragon Fruit - Pitaya, Pithaya, Red Pitaya, Yellow Pitaya
Durian Durian
Eggplant, aubergine Eggplant, Aubergine
Elderberry Elderberry
Endive Endive, Escarole, Chicory
Epazote Epazote
Feijoa, pineapple guava Feijoa, Pineapple Guava
Fig Fig
Garlic Garlic
Ginger Ginger
Gooseberry Gooseberry
Grapes Grape
Grapefruit Grapefruit
Green onion, scallions Green Onion, Scallions
Guava Guava
Honeydew Honeydew
Horseradish Horseradish
Jaboticaba Jaboticaba
Jerusalem artichoke Jerusalem Artichoke
Jicama Jicama
Jujube, Chinese date Jujube, Chinese Date
Kale Kale
Kiwi Kiwi
Kumquat Kumquat
Leek Leek
Lemon Lemon
Lettuce - iceburg, romaine Lettuce - Iceburg, Romaine
Lime Lime
Logan berry Loganberry
Longan Longan
Loquat Loquat
Luffa, Chinese okra Luffa, Chinese Okra
Lychee Lychee, Litchi
Cocoyam Malanga, Tania, New Cocoyam
Mango Mango
Mangosteen Mangosteen
Mint Mint
Mushrooms Mushrooms
Mustard greens Mustard Greens
Napa cabbage Napa
Nectarine Nectarine
Okra Okra
Olives Olives
Onions Onion
Orange Orange
Oregano Oregano
Papaya Papaya
Parsley Parsley
Parsnip Parsnip
Passion fruit Passion Fruit
Peach Peach
Pear Pear
Sugar snap peas, snow peas Peas - Snow, Snap, Sugar
Pepino melon Pepino, Melon Pear
Bell peppers Peppers - Bell
Chili peppers Peppers - Chili
Perilla Perilla, Shiso
Persimmons Persimmons, Kaki
Pineapple Pineapple
Plantain Plantain
Plum, prune Plum, Prune
Pomegranate Pomegranate
Potatoes Potato
Pummelo Pummelo
Pumpkin Pumpkin
Quince Quince
Radicchio Radicchio
Radishes Radish
Radish sprouts Radish Sprouts
Rambutan Rambutan
Raspberries Raspberry
Rhubarb Rhubarb
Rosemary Rosemary
Rutabaga, swede Rutabaga, Swede
Sage Sage
Salsify vegetable oyster Salsify, Vegetable Oyster
Sapote Sapote
Shallots Shallot
Soursop Soursop
Black eyed peas Southern Peas, Cowpeas, Black Eyed Peas
Spaghetti squash Spaghetti Squash
Spinach Spinach
Spondias Spondias, Mombin, Wi Apple, Jobo, Hogplum
Sprouts - alfalfa, bean Sprouts - Alfalfa, Bean
Squash - delicata, hubbard Squash - Delicata, Hubbard
Strawberries Strawberry
Sweet potato Sweet Potato
Tamarillo, tree tomato Tamarillo, Tree Tomato
Tamarind Tamarind
Tangerine, clementine Tangerine, Tangelo, Mandarin
Taro root Taro Root, Dasheen
Taragon Tarragon
Thyme Thyme
Tomatillo Tomatillo, Husk Tomato
Tomatoes Tomato
Turnips Turnip
Water chestnuts Water Chestnut
Watercress Watercress, Garden Cress
watermelon Watermelon
yam Yam
yellow squash Yellow squash
zucchini squash, courgette Zucchini Squash, Courgette