VARY YOUR VEGGIES: How to Select and Store Vegetables

Artichokes

Choose compact, heavy, plump globes w/ large fresh-looking, tightly clinging leaf scales
of bright green in spring that may be bronzed in winter. Size does not affect quality.

Keep cold and humid until ready to use.

Few days

Asparagus

Closed, compact tips, smooth, round spears and a fresh appearance. A rich green color should cover most of the spear. Stalks should be tender almost as far down as the green extends. Size of stalk has no relationship to tenderness.

AVOID:

• Stalks that are soaking in water.
• Tips that are open and spread out, moldy or decayed.
• Ribbed spears (with up-and-down ridges, or that are not approximately round). All the above are signs of aging, and mean toughness and poor flavor.
• Avoid excessively sandy spears because sand grains can lodge beneath the scales or in the tips and are difficult to remove in washing.

Refrigerate

Few days

Green Beans

Green, without scars, discoloration or strings. Pods should be firm, crisp and slender. When broken, they should snap.

Store whole in the refrigerator.

1 week

Beets

Beets should be firm, round, with a slender tap root (the large main root); should be a rich, deep red and smooth over most of the surface. If beets are bunched, you can judge their freshness fairly accurately by the condition of the tops. Badly wilted or decayed tops indicate a lack of freshness, but the roots may be satisfactory if they are firm.

AVOID:

• Elongated beets with round, scaly areas around the top surface as these will be tough, fibrous and strong-flavored.
• Wilted, flabby beets that have been exposed to the air too long.

Refrigerate

Tops, as soon as possible. Roots,
1 week

Broccoli

A firm, compact cluster of small flower buds, with none opened enough to show the bright yellow flower. Bud clusters should be dark green or sage green or even green with a definite purplish cast. Stems should not be too thick or tough.

AVOID:

• Broccoli with spread bud clusters, enlarged or open buds, yellowish green color or wilted condition, all of which are signs of over maturity and overlong display.

Refrigerate. Rinse and trim leaves and just stalk ends before using.

3 to 5 days

Brussels Sprouts

Should be firm, compact and have bright leaves.

AVOID:

• Yellow, soft or loose leaves.
• Small holes and ragged edges that may indicate worms.

Refrigerate

3 to 5 days

Cabbage

Heads should be reasonably solid and heavy in relation to size, with a good green or red color.

AVOID:

• Wilted or decayed outer leaves or those with leaves turning definitely yellow or with worm damage.
• Separation of the stems of leaves from the ventral stem at the base of the head because this indicates age.

Refrigerate in plastic bag or film.

1 to 2 weeks

Carrots

Well formed with smooth skins and good orange color.

AVOID:

• Wilted, flabby, rough or cracked carrots and those with green “sunburned” areas at the top, or spots of soft decay.

Refrigerate, cold and humid

2 to 3 weeks

Cauliflower

White to creamy white, compact, solid and clean curds. A slightly granular or “ricey” texture of the curd will not hurt the eating quality if the surface is compact. Ignore small green leaflets extending through the curd. If jacket leaves are attached, a good green color is a sign of freshness.

AVOID:

• A spreading of the curd, which is a sign of aging or over maturity.
• Severe wilting or many discolored spots on the curd.
• A smudgy or speckled appearance of the curd, which is a sign of insect injury, mold growth or decay.

Refrigerate in crisper

1 week

Celery

Stalks should have a solid feel and fresh-looking leaflets. Soft branches indicate possible pithiness.

AVOID:

• Wilted stalks.
• Brown or black discoloration in central branches. You can freshen celery somewhat by placing the butt end in water, but badly wilted celery never will become really fresh again.

Refrigerate in crisper

1 to 2 weeks

Corn

Fresh, succulent husks with good green color, silk ends that are free from decay or worm injury, and stem ends (opposite from the silk) that are not too discolored or dried. Select ears that are well-covered with plump, not-too-mature kernels.

AVOID:

• Ears with underdeveloped kernels, which lack yellow color (in yellow varieties).
• Old ears with very large kernels and ears with dark yellow kernels with depressed areas on the outer surface. Ears with yellowed, wilted or dried husks or discolored and dried out stem ends.

Immediately shuck the corn, wrap in plastic and refrigerate. If corn must be stored a few days, soak the ears in cold water for 30 minutes, drain and refrigerate in plastic.

As soon as possible

Cucumbers

Good green color, firmness over entire length. Well-shaped and well-developed, but not be too large in diameter. Good cucumbers typically have many small lumps on their surfaces. They may have some white or greenish-white color and still be of top quality. The edible wax coating is to prevent moisture loss.

AVOID:

• Puffy or overgrown cucumbers that are large in diameter and have a dull color, turning yellowish.
• Withered or shriveled ends because these are signs of toughness and bitter flavor.

Cool and humid

1 week

Eggplant

Firm and heavy with smooth, dark purple or purple-black skin that is free of scars and cuts.

AVOID:

• Wilted, shriveled or soft eggplants because they are usually bitter.

Cool and humid: provide enough space to protect delicate skin.

1 week

Endive/Escarole/Chicory

Should be fresh, clean, crisp and cold.

AVOID:

• Dry, yellowing or wilted leaves or those showing reddish discoloration of the hearts.

Cold and moist

As soon as possible – within 1 week

Leeks

Fresh green tops with necks branched two or three inches from the root.
No more than 1½ inches in diameter.

AVOID:

• Wilted or damaged tops, which are a sign of aging and tough, fibrous roots.

Refrigerate

1 week

Lettuce

Solid head type, iceberg, should be fairly firm with crisp, medium-green outer leaves. Butterhead, romaine, bib and leaf should have good color without wilted leaves, insects or dirt.

AVOID:

• Heads of iceberg type that are very hard and lack green color (signs of over maturity). Such heads sometimes develop discoloration in the center of the leaves (the midribs) and may have a less attractive flavor.
• Irregular shapes and hard bumps on top that may indicate the presence of overgrown central stems.

Refrigerate in tightly closed plastic bag

1 week

Mushrooms

Young mushrooms that are small to medium in size. Clean caps that either are closed around the stem or moderately open with pink or light tan gills. The surface of the cap should be white, creamy or light brown. Those with open veils, caused by water loss as they mature, are fine for cooking purposes but should be used promptly.

AVOID:

• Overripe mushrooms (shown by wide-open caps and dark, discolored gills underneath).
• Those with pitted or seriously discolored caps.

Refrigerate in a paper bag or in the cardboard or plastic container in which they were purchased, but only if the overwrap has holes in it for ventilation. Mushrooms stored in plastic bags will become slimy. Or sauté lightly in fat and freeze.

As soon as possible, fresh, young up to 1 week

Okra

Pods should be young and tender, preferably 2 to 4 inches long.

AVOID:

• Dull, dry or shriveled pods.

Refrigerate

3 to 5 days

Onions, Dry

Hard, firm, dry with papery skin and small necks. Moisture at the neck indicates decay.

AVOID:

• Those with thick, hollow centers in the neck or with fresh sprouts.

Keep at room temperature in a well-ventilated area or refrigerate, but always keep them dry.

3 to 4 months

Onions, Green

Fresh, crisp green tops.

AVOID:

• Bunches with wilted or discolored leaves.

Refrigerate in plastic.

A few days

Onions, Sweet

Shiny with tissue-thin skin and tight, dry necks. Skin color, although usually yellow, may be red or white as well. Shape varies from flat to round.

AVOID:

• Spongy onions.

A cool, dry well-ventilated area in a single layer.

1 month

Parsnips

Smooth, firm, well-shaped of small to medium size. Discoloration may be an indication of freezing.

AVOID:

• Roots that are badly wilted or flabby. They will be tough when cooked.

Refrigerate in a plastic bag. Some recommend time at room temperature for full flavor.

2 to 4 weeks

Peppers, Sweet

Fresh-looking, firm, thick-fleshed and of bright color, depending on stage of maturity. Red sweet peppers are green peppers that have matured and changed color. Golden and purple also available.

AVOID:

• Peppers that are soft or dull looking or have soft, watery spots.

Cool and humid

A few days to 1 week

Potatoes

Smooth, clean, fairly well shaped, uncut, unbruised and without sprouts. Should not show any green.

Store in cool (45 to 50 degrees), well-ventilated dark area. Do not refrigerate. If stored at too cool a temperature, potatoes may turn dark during cooking.

Several months

Squash, Summer

Small to medium size for the most tender and tasty. Fresh looking, of good shape and color for the variety. Completely edible.

Refrigerate in perforated plastic bag. Wash just before using.

Use as soon as possible
(3 to 5 days)

Squash, Winter

Shell should be intact with no soft spots or cracks. Should feel heavy for their size.

A cool, dry, well-ventilated place.
Do not refrigerate.

Several months

Sweet Potatoes

Firm, well-shaped with clean, smooth skin.

AVOID:

• Soft spots or bruises.

Dry, well-ventilated place. Do not refrigerate.

3 to 4 months

Tomatoes

Smooth, firm and plump with good color. Good weight for size. Green tomatoes will
ripen but not have the flavor quality of vine-ripened. Do not bruise while handling.

Cool room temperature away from direct sunlight until ripe, then refrigerate.

Few days to
1 week.