How to store produce so it lasts longer

Know what actually belongs in the fridge

Not everything keeps better cold. Tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, and whole melons do better on the counter or in a cool, dark cupboard, while most other vegetables and cut produce last longer in the fridge's crisper drawers. Getting this split right is one of the simplest changes that measurably extends how long produce lasts.

Cold temperatures can turn a tomato mealy and dull a potato's flavor, so both are better left out. Onions and garlic do best somewhere dry and dark, away from direct sunlight, rather than in the fridge or under the sink.

Keep ethylene-producing fruit away from sensitive vegetables

Apples, bananas, avocados, and pears release ethylene gas as they ripen, which speeds up spoilage in nearby produce, especially leafy greens, broccoli, and berries. Storing ethylene producers in a separate drawer or bowl, away from ethylene-sensitive items, keeps the rest of your produce from aging faster than it needs to.

Give herbs and leafy greens a bit of moisture

Herbs and leafy greens dry out fast in a plain fridge drawer. Treat soft herbs like a bouquet, trim the stems and stand them in a jar of water, and wrap leafy greens loosely in a damp towel before bagging them. Both tricks can roughly double how many days they stay usable.

Basil is the one exception: it does better on the counter in water, not the fridge, which can turn its leaves dark and slimy. Most other soft herbs, like cilantro and parsley, do well with the jar-of-water method chilled.

Build a five-minute storage habit after every shop

The biggest gains come from a short sorting routine right after you shop, not from any single trick. Spend five minutes moving ethylene producers apart, trimming herbs into water, and wrapping greens before anything hits the crisper drawer, and produce reliably lasts noticeably longer through the week.

Doing this once, right when groceries come in, is far more effective than trying to fix wilting produce mid-week. It also makes it easier to see what you have, which helps you use it before it turns.