Easy ways to prolong produce!

You won't waste a bite of your farmers market finds with these tricks to extend the life of fruit and greens!

- ANN GREEN

Sidestep slimy lettuce with a rolling trick

Place washed greens on a dry paper towel and roll them up like a jelly roll before tucking the towel inside a produce bag and stashing it in the fridge. "This method keeps greens fresh for days longer," notes chemist Alexis Rochester (ChemistryCachet.com), who explains that the trick wicks away bacteria-inducing moisture.

Preserve herbs in a jar

Tired of delicate herbs like basil, cilantro, parsley, mint and dill withering before you can use them? Simply pop them in a jam jar—just like a bouquet of flowers. "The stems will continue to absorb water, keeping their cells hydrated to prevent wilting," explains Rochester. Change the water daily to keep your herb collection just-picked fresh for up to a week.

Ensure veggies last longer by placing fruit on top

Storing fruits and veggies together in the crisper drawer can speed spoilage. That's because many fruits—like apples, nectarines and peaches—give off ethylene gas that flips the ripening "on switch" in produce like spinach and broccoli. Instead, "keep ethylene-producing fruits on the top shelf away from other greens," says Rochester. This tweak can double veggies' shelf life.

Keep spuds fresh with an 'herbal cure'