Your Produce Shelf Life List
- Fresh Life
- 08/26/15
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Knowing how long your food will stay fresh is a must in any kitchen. Refer to the fresh food comparison chart to see how a FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealer can extend the shelf life of all your meats, veggies, fruits and more.
Keeping those ingredients at their best is essential for preparing delicious meals, but did you know some fruits and veggies spoil sooner than others? While a sack of potatoes may stay good for one or two weeks left out, your other garden goods won't stay fresh for that long.
Here's a handy guide for how long your produce will last without a FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealer. Keep these tips in mind while you're picking your last harvest in the garden.
Produce That Spoils Fastest
As a rule of thumb, many fruits and veggies last longer if they're left uncut. That goes for avocados and watermelon as well as onions. Any produce that has been cut or peeled should be vacuum sealed and stored in the refrigerator immediately. Here are a few items that won't last that long, cut or not.
These fruits and veggies will only last between three and five days without a seal:
| Artichokes | Asparagus | Basil |
| Blackberries | Blueberries | Cherries |
| Chives | Cilantro | Corn |
| Cucumbers | Peaches | Raspberries |
| Snow peas | Spinach | Strawberries |
| Tomatoes | Yellow squash | Zucchini |
Typically, most of the produce you pick should be refrigerated and used quickly. Even so, asparagus only stays fresh for around three days, and the other items on this list will lose flavor or spoil in less than a week.
Produce That Stays Fresh for Over One Week
Luckily, there are a few things in your garden that can stand the test of time a little more effectively. Don't get ahead of yourself, though. That fresh flavor will fade with every day that passes.
Here's what produce can last for a little more than a week without a seal:
| Apricots | Bell peppers | Broccoli | Cabbage |
| Cauliflower | Celery | Eggplant | Grapes |
| Green beans | Hot peppers | Lettuce | Melons |
| Mushrooms | Oranges | Pears | Plums |
Notice most of your sweet fruit will go bad after just one week. Most citrus fruits will still stay fresh, however.
The Longest Lasting Produce
These fruits and veggies have a naturally long shelf life, so you don't have to worry as much about sealing, refrigerating or freezing. However, if you want to enjoy your harvest well after you've done your picking, consider using a vacuum sealer to lock in the freshness.
This produce will last for two weeks or more without the seal:
| Acorn squash | Apples | Beets |
| Cabbage | Carrots | Lemons |
| Limes | Onions | Parsnips |
| Potatoes | Radishes | Rosemary |
| Thyme | Turnips | Winter squash |
Seal up all your produce to extend the life and flavor of what you get at the store or what you pick from the garden.
