11 Genius Tricks That Will Keep Your Food Fresher For Longer

Waste less; eat more! Rubbermaid FreshWorks™ food storage container keeps your produce fresh up to 80% longer.*

1. Don't automatically put everything in the fridge.

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Not everything needs to be stored in the fridge — in fact, tomatoes, onions, and melon spoil faster in the cold. Bread also does better at room temperature.

2. Apples should be kept in the fridge, though.

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Apples are one of just a few fruits that really benefit from being stored in the cold, so maximize the freshness of your apples by keeping them in the crisper drawer with a damp paper towel.

3. Fruits and vegetables should be stored separately.

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Lots of fruits produce ethylene gas, which acts as a ripening agent and can make vegetables spoil faster. So if you want to extend the life of your veggies, store them alone.

4. Onions and potatoes should also be kept separate.

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Onions also produce ethylene gas, which can cause potatoes to sprout.

5. Treat tender herbs like a bouquet of flowers.

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Trim the ends of tender herbs and put them in water like you would a bouquet to make them last longer. Basil should be kept on the counter at room temperature, but other tender herbs — parsley, cilantro, dill, tarragon, mint — can be stored in the fridge.

6. Freeze fresh herbs in olive oil for long-term storage.

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Keep large bunches of herbs flavorful for long periods of time by freezing them in olive oil. It won't preserve their texture, but it will help them stay fresh tasting for soups, stews, and pan sauces.

7. Separate bananas and wrap their stems.

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Individual bananas ripen at slightly different rates so keep them fresh by separating them and wrapping their stems with plastic wrap. This prevents ethylene gas from riper bananas from affecting less ripe ones.

8. Brush avocado halves with olive oil to prevent browning.

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The oil will keep the green flesh from coming in direct contact with air, slowing the process of oxidization.

9. Store milk in old-fashioned glass bottles.

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Glass gets much colder than cardboard, and glass bottles are generally much more airtight than other cartons, keeping the milk fresher for longer.

10. Be selective about what you store in the refrigerator door.

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Eggs and milk are particularly sensitive to temperature changes, and the door gets warmer than any other part of the fridge.

11. Cut the green stems off carrots.

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Green stems leech moisture out of carrots, causing them to go limp. Keep your carrots crunchy by trimming the stems before storing them in a plastic bag.

Use Rubbermaid FreshWorks™ food storage container.

Rubbermaid FreshWorks™ creates the optimal environment to keep your produce fresh thanks to its unique FreshVent™ Lid that naturally regulates the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide and CrispTray™ technology, which elevates produce away from moisture and promotes proper airflow to help prevent spoilage.

*Based on strawberries in FreshWorks™ containers vs. store packaging. Results may vary depending upon produce and use.