Buying and Storing Carrots

Buying Carrots: Carrots are a great root vegetable with a lot of nutrients! They make a great side to any dish and go well in stews and soups. When buying carrots we want to look for carrots with a nice orange color that are smooth and have a straight form. If possible we should buy carrots with the greens still attached, these are usually the freshest and will keep and taste better. Look for non wilted greens that look fresh.   Storing Carrots: Carrots store very well in the refrigerator and they should be kept there for long term use. In fact, carrots stored properly in the refrigerator can last up to 3 months! First we need to cut off the greens as they can cause the carrots to rot faster. Then we should dry them prior to placing them in the refrigerator. After they have been dried we should put them down on a layer of absorbent paper towels. The paper towels will collect the moisture the carrots give off and keep them from rotting. We should check the paper towels every few days to make sure its not to damp, if it is simply replace it with a new fresh one. Tip: We like Bounty Paper Towels to store our carrots on. We find they collect the most moisture and keep the carrots fresh!   What Not To Do: Store On The Counter: Carrots stored on the counter wind up going soft and limp. Store Near Bananas and Apples: The ethylene gas can make the carrots very bitter. Leave The Greens On: We should always store carrots with the greens cut off. They will pull nutrients from the carrots as they are stored....

Buying and Storing Ginger

  Buying Ginger: Ginger is a great root vegetable to make our dishes flavorful and delicious! Ginger is readily available and very easy to store for long term. We should always buy fresh ginger and avoid easy peeled or easy cut ginger. They lack the true flavor of ginger and wind up being pretty expensive. When buying ginger we want to buy the freshest ginger available  We want a firm, plump and unwrinkled root. This will provide the best flavor and also last the longest during storage!   Storing Ginger: Freshly bought ginger can last quite a long time if stored properly. Depending on how often you use ginger is how we should go about storing it. If you are a regular ginger consumer, the best place to store ginger is in the refrigerator. We should cut off the chunk we need for our recipe and then place the  rest of the root in a Ziploc Bag to keep it fresh and the aroma contained. Ginger stored this way will keep fresh for 2-3 weeks. If we you are a casual ginger consumer or simply bought to much ginger we recommend storing it in the freezer. The root should be stored in a Ziploc Freezer Bag where it can last up to 6 months! Tip: If you are freezing your ginger, there is no need to thaw it ahead of time. Frozen ginger actually grates very easily!   What Not To Do: Store Unwrapped: Ginger is very aromatic and if tossed in the fridge it can transfer its odor to other foods. Avoid Soft Ginger: Ginger should be hard and not soft. This is a sign of spoiled ginger and should be avoided. Avoid Wrinkly Dry Ginger: This is a sign of old age and usually means the root has lost most of its nutrients and won’t keep long....

Buying and Storing Broccoli

Buying Broccoli: Broccoli is one of the most nutritious vegetables for us to eat. Not only is broccoli rich in calcium, it also has anti-oxidant properties to prevent certain forms of cancer. When buying broccoli we want to look for a deep green color. Any yellowing is a sign of age and won’t last very long. We also want to make sure the florets are tight and compact. The stem should be thin but firm, it also should feel heavy when picking up. These are all signs of good broccoli and the best way to get all the beneficial properties.     Storing Broccoli: Broccoli isn’t a vegetable that keeps long so really we want to use it within 2-3 days to get all the benefits. As broccoli starts to age it starts to lose its nutritional benefits. Having said that, we should still store our broccoli correctly to get all those benefits when we do decide to cook it. Broccoli is best stored in the fridge in a plastic bag with holes in it. This allows airflow for the broccoli and makes sure it doesn’t spoil faster in the refrigerator.  Tip: These Ziploc bags are great for storing broccoli and other vegetables. They allow air flow and help keep the moisture out, allowing your fresh produce to last longer.   What Not To Do: Never Store On The Counter: Unless you plan on using the broccoli in a day or so its best to store in the fridge. This will keep it fresh for longer and prevent it from drying out and becoming soft. Never Store In An Airtight Plastic Bag: This will restrict airflow and cause the broccoli spoil faster....

Buying and Storing Onions

  Buying Onions: Onions come in many different shapes, colors and sizes. For all types of onions it is important that you avoid onions that have cuts & bruises, sprouting and any type of mold. Also check the neck of the onion, this should be firm and not soft. All of these signs point to an onion that is starting to decay. Ideally you onions should have a dry brown crackly shell on the outside. There are generally 3 different types of onions, each have the own unique flavor: Red Onions: Probably the most mild onion of them all. Usually red onions aren’t cooked and are served raw in salads and on sandwiches Yellow Onions: Perhaps the most popular onion. Adds great flavor to stews, soups, and meat dishes. White Onions: A more mild flavor compared to yellow onions. If you don’t want a strong onion flavor use white onions for your dishes.   Storing Onions: Properly bought onions can last up to 6-8 months when stored correctly. We want to store our onions in a cool dark place and out of sunlight. They should not be put in the fridge as this will result in spoilage. Onions should always be stored separately and away from other produce. This is to avoid unnecessary spoilage and keep the other produce from absorbing the onions flavor. Cut or partial used onions should be stored in the fridge in a tight plastic container. This will allow you onion to stay fresh till your next recipe. Tip: If you don’t care about decor, use new pantyhose and tie a knot in between each onion.   What Not To Do: Do Not Store Near Potatoes: The potatoes will absorb the water from your onions causing both of your vegetables to spoil. Never Store In Plastic Bags: This prevents air flow and will cause your onions to spoil much much faster. Eat Slimy or Discolored Onions: These have likely gone bad and are not good to eat. Its best to toss them in the composte bin....

Buying and Storing Garlic

  Buying Garlic: Garlic is one of the main ingredients to many world wide cuisines. It is packed with health benefits and delicious flavor. When buying garlic, avoid the very large elephant garlic. Though we may think bigger, elephant garlic does not taste the same and is not to be used as a substitute for everyday garlic. We want to buy garlic that is firm and has plenty of dry papery shells. Any garlic head that shows signs of sprouting means they are old and not dried or stored correctly. Very old garlic will break apart easily with pressure.   Storing Garlic: Freshly bought garlic can last quite a long time if stored properly. We want to store our garlic in a cool dark place and out of sunlight. They should not be put in the fridge as this will result in spoilage. Garlic will age and spoil faster in direct sunlight. They will begin sprouting and eventually become soft and moldy. Always avoid direct sunlight when storing your garlic. The best place to store garlic is in a container that protects the bulbs from sunlight but has small holes to allow air circulation. Once the bulb is broken the cloves will last about 3-10 days. Tip: Plan ahead when cooking garlic. Its best to cut, crush or chop your garlic 10-15 mins prior to cooking in order for the alliicin to form.   What Not To Do: Never Store Garlic In Oil: This could result in Botulism, a very nasty toxin. It is best to buy your garlic oil from the store where it has been properly made. If Sprouting: The garlic is still safe to eat but its best you chop out the green as it will make your dish bitter. Properly stored garlic should never sprout though. Never Store In The Fridge: The cold temperature will ruin the taste as well as the texture of the garlic cloves....