How to keep greens fresh.

[juliebove]

I have an old side by side fridge with only one rather small crisper drawer. It just isn't big enough for all the veggies that I buy. And often the celery and greens have to sit outside the drawer because they are too big to fit in there. Sometimes this works. Sometimes it doesn't. Tonight, I pulled out the Swiss Chard that I got on Wed. and most of it was badly wilted. Does anyone know of a way to keep the greens from wilting? Do those fabric salad bags really work? I considered buying them, but they are very expensive. And buying another fridge is not an option, at least for the immeditate future.

Thanks!

[SmilingRawDancer]

Well, I put things like cilantro/parsley/basil in a jar with water in the bottom, like flowers...those keep for AT LEAST a week that way. Then with the room I then have in the drawers, I keep everything else like celery etc.

[juliebove]

Well, I put things like cilantro/parsley/basil in a jar with water in the bottom, like flowers...those keep for AT LEAST a week that way. Then with the room I then have in the drawers, I keep everything else like celery etc.

Oh how I wish I had drawers. But I have just the one and it's small. There is a drawer labeled "meat" but it gets close to freezing and is too cold for storing most vegetables. I have put things like beets and carrots in it for a few days, but no good at all for greens.

Herbs are not a problem since they are small. It's mainly stuff like cabbage, lettuce and Swiss chard. They look so nice when I put them in, but even a day later they are all wilted. And unless the celery is particularly small, it won't fit in the drawer.

[spicyfull]

Have you thought about washing and cutting the Vegetables up? This would make room and save you prep. time. Do you have a machine that takes the air out of the bag? That helps also................

[juliebove]

Have you thought about washing and cutting the Vegetables up? This would make room and save you prep. time. Do you have a machine that takes the air out of the bag? That helps also................

I used to wash and cut up some things, but they seem to spoil faster that way. And no, I don't have a machine that takes air out of the bag. Would that work with lettuce?

[fjernsyn]

I really like the terrycloth salad bags, but something similar that works just as well is to wrap greens in a damp dish cloth. Every couple of days you should re-dampen it but this will keep things nice and crisp, and often even give new life to wilted produce. Also, if you have a sewing machine, you could even just sew two dishcloths together at three sides for more of a sack, which could cover more than one bunch of greens.

[Raw Mom]

I use the Evert Fresh bags for wheatgrass and greens(if I can't eat them right away). Fruits and veggies will last 1 week longer in them. I have some for sale, package of 10, medium 1 gallon size for $6.95. Email me direct if you'd like. Check them out on evertfresh.com. :cool:

[puffysmom]

Years ago i read that if u take celery and completely cover it with aluminun foil that it will last at least a month or more so i did it and it works. u have to make sure the ends r also enclosed. No light or air to get in. Then just let it lay on a frig shelf. Everytime u need a stalk u just open up, take what u want off and wrap it back up. Dont cut the top or bottom off or wash before wrapping.
It sure has saved me a lot of money with keeping celery. those plastic bags just makes them go bad quicker then even letting them lay on a shelf with no protection.
Sometimes IF i use plastic bags(which is not often as i dont trust them to not put toxins in my goodies) i take a sharp knife and poke holes in it so it is not air tight. If u look at veggies in the stores that is in bags they all have air holes.
U can buy plastic tubs at Tupperware or even store that is for keeping greens fresh. My sis has one and it works great.

[Raspberry4]

I never have success with the bags - even if I try to dry the produce (which is almost impossible to get 100% dry) then the moisture stays in the bag and it wilts the produce. I do not know how it works so well for others.???

[fjernsyn]

Raspberry - that's why I like the cloth bags. You're actually supposed to put the produce in wet, then shake it around so the water gets into the fabric. The damp fabric provides the protective barrier. I love washing romaine leaves and stacking them up inside the bag. I don't have to dry the leaves and I always have some on hand for a salad in seconds.

[juliebove]

Thanks! I will try the foil on the celery and will look for those bags. Years ago, I bought some perforated plastic bags for storing veggies. They worked great but they are no longer sold in the grocery stores here. I will look for those other bags.