1. Know Your Type
You'll need to store your fresh vegetables based on their type. Vegetables that fall into the root category, like potatoes and turnips, are stored in a cool, dark place. Other fresh vegetables, like lettuce, tomatoes and carrots, go into the bottom drawer of your fridge, also known as the crisper drawer. You'll also want to keep each type of fresh vegetable in a proper container during storage. You can use grocer provided bags, plastic storage bags or other types of plastic ware. Examine the veggies often while stored to make sure they maintain their freshness. For leafy vegetables, you should check for crispness and any signs of brown spots. Look for signs of mold or excess moisture on veggies kept in the crisper section of your fridge. Excess growth on the outside of root vegetables can indicate that it has gone past its prime.
2. Don't Keep it Clean
You won't want to clean your fresh vegetables before you store them. When you wet the vegetables and then refrigerate them, you encourage mold growth and bacteria. Your vegetables should remain dry at all times during storage, no matter what type. Clean the vegetable just before you plan to eat them. To clean the vegetables after storage, you'll want to take the time to thoroughly scrub them to get rid of pesticides and other residue. If you have a small sized scrub brush, you can use that on the skin of rougher vegetables, like potatoes and carrots. Rinse the vegetables completely before eating or cooking them.
3. Alternative Vegetable Storage Methods
If you grow your own vegetables and tend to get a large crop, you can use alternative storage methods besides putting them in the fridge. Some vegetables can be stored at room temperature or other areas besides the fridge. Vegetables, like onions and garlic, keep well at room temperature and can last in an outdoor storage facility or another area inside the home. You can also benefit from the use of a root cellar if you have a lot of fresh vegetables to store. For a root cellar to keep the veggies fresh, it needs to maintain a temperature between 32 and 35 degrees F. You'll also need to make sure the humidity remains low in the root cellar to keep vegetables longer.
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