1. Fresh Vegetables Stick Together
Whether you plant vegetable gardens or shop the produce sections, being able to identify overripe vegetables helps you pick fresh varieties for your meals. Several varieties of vegetables have areas that compact when fresh. On artichokes, the leaves on the globe compact when fresh. The tips on asparagus compact when ripe and the buds on broccoli and cauliflower are tight when ripe. Cabbage and lettuce heads form compact balls while ripe, and the stalks of celery compact to form a tight bundle. Use these areas to tell if vegetables are overripe. If the area looks wilted or has spread apart, the vegetable is past its prime.
2. Go for Bright and Vibrant, Not Shiny
Most ripe vegetables display a deep, rich or bright, vibrant color. For asparagus, the tips and stalk should be deep green. Tomatoes should be bright red and beets should be dark red. Ripe eggplants are deep purple. On exception to this rule are peas, which should be a medium green when ripe; dark green indicates overripe peas. Overripe vegetables lose their luster and may appear dull. If you shop for organic vegetables, keep in mind that these may appear duller than non-organic varieties. This typically results from the lack of wax used on organic vegetables. Don't confuse shiny for bright or vibrant. Look at the vegetables for noticeable bruising, blemishes, brown spots or speckling; this often indicates overripe vegetables.
3. Use Your Senses
Learning to tell if a vegetable is overripe often comes only with trial and error. The more you buy a particular vegetable, the better you will become at judging ripeness. Aside from color and compacted areas, you can use miscellaneous tips to find fresh vegetables. What works on one type of vegetable may not work on all. Fresh vegetables like garlic, celery root (celeriac) and onions should be heavier than they look. When you buy eggplants, look for smaller versions and press the skin with your finger. If the indention remains in the vegetable, it's overripe. For beans, go for crisp ones, which snap cleanly. Ripe peppers, regardless of variety, have smooth skins. For tomatoes, smell the top near the vine. If it smells like a garden, it's fresh. Carrots should be smooth with no cracks. If you know the months when gardeners harvest vegetables, you can buy based on what vegetables should be in season.
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