How to Store Produce and For How Long

PRODUCE HOW TO STORE
HOW LONG

Asparagus Trim 1 inch from bottom of stem.
Wrap in wet paper towel. Store in
plastic bags in refrigerator. 2 to 4 days

Green beans Pods become tougher as beans mature.
Store in perforated plastic
bags in warm part of refrigerator ("crisper").
Up to 1 week

Broccoli Store in refrigerator in airtight plastic
bags.4 to 5 days

Cabbage Store in refrigerator, tightly wrapped in
plastic wrap.Up to 3 weeks

Carrots Store in perforated plastic bags in refrigerator.
4 to 5 months

Cauliflower Store in perforated plastic
bags in refrigerator. Up to 10 days

Cucumbers Store slicing cucumbers in plastic
bags in crisper.Up to 2 weeks

Eggplant Does not keep long but may be stored
in crisper.Up to 1 week

Lettuce Head, semi-head and leaf lettuce can be
stored in perforated plastic
bags in refrigerator. Up to 2 weeks

Cantaloupe Store at room temperature until fully ripe.
Cut melon should be
stored in refrigerator in airtight plastic bags.
2 or 3 days

Green onions Cut off roots; trim tops, leaving 3
to 4 inches of green. Store
in plastic bags in refrigerator. Up to 1 month

Onions (dry) Keep ventilated during humid weather.
Don't use plastic bags.
Don't store under the sink with potatoes,
which emit a gas that will spoil
onions.3 to 4 months

Parsley Store in plastic bags in refrigerator.
Up to 10 days

Sweet peppers Store in crisper in plastic bags.
Up to 3 days

Sweet corn Short storage life. Refrigerate in plastic bags.
No more than 2
days

Sweet potatoes Because of their high sugar content,
they don't keep as long
as other root vegetables. Store under sink.
1 to 2 weeks

Tomatoes Don't refrigerate. Let them ripen on the kitchen
counter. Mature green tomatoes with whitish-green skin can be
kept by wrapping each tomato in newspaper and checking
for ripeness weekly.3 to 5 weeks (if green)

Kansas State University Extension and Research publication MF661