How to store/prep food

[ellenalesa]

Hi everyone,

Is there an FAQ file I should be looking at? I have always tried to incorporate more produce into my diet and hate to admit that I usually threw stuff out.

I could use some tips for prepping food and storing it properly.

Also, I'd like to get some raw nuts, almonds and cashews. If I buy them in bulk, is it cheaper? Can I freeze them? Any good online sources?

My intent is to start with mostly fruits and salads and then start doing more exotic things, like get a dehydrator and make crackers and vegetable chips, and my own trail mix.

I usually do greens, cukes, tomatoes and peppers and carrots. Any other ideas?

Thanks again for your help.

Ellen

[Pailani]

I used to throw out a lot of produce, too, before I started raw.

I rarely make salads. I mostly make smoothies. It's a painless way to get greens, and it's a lot easier to throw lettuce into the blender with an apple and a banana than to spend time cutting it by hand. I don't like working in the kitchen, so I don't like making salad, and I find them boring to eat unless I put a lot of fatty or salty dressing on it.

The best way to store lettuce and celery is to rinse it, spin it, and put it in something airtight. I squish it down because the more air in the container, the faster it will go bad.

I keep nuts and seeds in the refrigerator.

[madmel]

Hi ellenalesa,

I usually buy a huge load of fresh veggies and fruit once a week: When I come home I wash it and clean it and then pack the veggies and salads in Lock&Lock airtight containers and then store them in the second fridge in the basement. Most of the fruit stays outside the fridge, only some fruits have to be stored inside (cut up watermelon, mangosteens, blueberries).

Having everything prepped and ready makes food preparation a lot easier b/c I just have to go to the basement, grab a couple of containers, take out what I need, chop the produce and eat it.

I find the Lock&Lock containers very useful and think that the produce stays fresh a lot longer than in the containers I used before. And shopping groceries only once a week is really great!

mel