Need help! Carrots in trouble!

[Sharon in Colorado]

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[RawNaturale]

We're actually looking into getting a used 2nd fridge in place of our empty pantry. I would definitely find a way to keep them in the fridge...or find a way not to buy a 25 lb bag. I know some folks get their veggies, wash them and put them away in the fridge...maybe you could get some gallon storage baggies and stack them in different parts of the fridge.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Thanks RN - you know we've gotten the 25 lb bags before and this is the first time it's lasted this long. My hubsand used to go through them in a week but he slowed down on his juicing.

I like the idea about washing them and dispersing them throughout the fridge that makes a lot of sense to me. My in-laws keep their bag leaning up against a wall and never have a prob with mold, but they must go through theirs a lot quicker.

I think you should get the 2nd fridge too. We used to have a 2nd chest freezer and it came in handy so much. I'm working on hubby with that one. It'd be a great place to keep ripe produce overflow.

[rawpriestess]

Hi, I used to buy the 25 pound bag of carrots, and if I washed them, and chopped off the ends and put them in bags in the frige they lasted a long time.

When I didn't wash them, or cut off the ends and kept them in the original bag they turned within 3 or 4 days.

I have tried keeping them outside, in the garage, and they only seem to last washed, cleaned and in the frige in a plastic bag, if you leave them out of the bag they get rubbery, however, if they do get rubbery, you can crisp them back up just like celery, place in ice water, and they crisp right up.

[Sharon in Colorado]

That's a great idea, RP. I think I'll do that. I'm getting a new shipment in tomorrow. I know it'll be time consuming, but it will just same time for when hubby needs his quick juice fix in the future.

Thank you!

Oh - can I ask - did you make sure they were thoroughly dry before putting them back in the fridge? Did you use zip lock bags or regular grocery bags, do you think it matters?

[Ireland]

Call me crazy but...guess how I wash my carrots???

Well, years ago my friend who used to garden a lot, told me that her secret to wonderfully clean carrots (after picking them from the garden) was to put them in the washing machine. :)

First, run your washer on the highest level with the hottest water and about 3 cups of white vinegar. This completely gets rid of any soap residue.

Then, top and tail your carrots, throw them in a cold water wash. It spins them quite dry as well and doesn't seem to bruise them or anything. Sure has saved me time over the years!

After all of this...put them in vegetable bags in the fridge. Vegie bags have tiny litle perforations that let just the right amount of dry air in and moist air out...or the other way around...

Sounds bizzarre, but trust me LucyLoo, it works!

[levamssg]

For right now, I store my extra produce in an empty lateral file cabinet we have in the garage. Doesn't free out there, and is plenty cold! I'm going to quietly replace the file cabinet with a fridge when the weather warms up!!

[levamssg]

Call me crazy but...guess how I wash my carrots???


top and tail your carrots, throw them in a cold water wash. It spins them quite dry as well and doesn't seem to bruise them or anything. Sure has saved me time over the years!




Wow - I LOVE this idea. My husband rolls his eyes and shakes his head when I wash our paint tarps ... can't wait to see his reaction when I throw in the carrots!!!

[Sharon in Colorado]

That's interesting. I guess I better not use fabric softener or I'll get limp carrots! And hopefully all the carrots don't get bunched up on once side before the spin cycle - can you imagine all the bumping around in there?

It isn't so weird - I once went to a party in my meat-eating days where they made the salmon in the dishwasher. Except it wasn't 'done' enough. We figured it needed an extra cycle!

[lvg4him]

Sharon, I use green bags. I will bring a few to our get together tonight (for my produce). You can have them! =^) Produce lasts much longer when I use the green bags, but I don't see them for sale in stores anymore. I am so glad I stocked up! They are reusable (just rinse them out if needed). I LOVE my green bags.

I also heard that Tupperware now makes containers specifically for storing fruit in the fridge in. Depending on what the veggie is, you leave or or two holes open to allow the right amount of air and moisture in! Never tried them cause I got my green bags. LOL!

[Sharon in Colorado]

Thank you Paula,

I actually once bought those special Tupperware containers but they were way too small for my needs. I ended up giving them to my mom!

Thanks for the bags. I washed with soap and diluted vinegar (hope that won't ruin them) and they are hanging out to dry now, so to speak.