What's the best way of storing vegetables in the fridge. Usually coming from
supermarkets they come in plastic bags. But in the store when they break
open mushrooms from the box in the plastic wrapping, they advise keeping the
mushrooms in the fridge in a *paper bag*, which they provide free.

Why would mushrooms benefit from being kept in the fridge in paper, and
other green vegetables not, i wonder?

On Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:59:28 -0000, "john eastwood"
> wrote:

>What's the best way of storing vegetables in the fridge. Usually coming from
>supermarkets they come in plastic bags. But in the store when they break
>open mushrooms from the box in the plastic wrapping, they advise keeping the
>mushrooms in the fridge in a *paper bag*, which they provide free.
>
>Why would mushrooms benefit from being kept in the fridge in paper, and
>other green vegetables not, i wonder?

Well, right from the git-go mushrooms aren't vegetables, and they're
certainly not green vegetables.

Plastic isn't the best way to keep any produce because it doesn't
breathe (release moisture). Years ago all produce was stored in paper
simply because there was no plastic.... more than 50 years ago when
one went to market most all produce was wrapped in old newspaper and
then everything packed in a brown paper bag.

But to answer your question the best way to store fresh mushrooms is
for as short a time as possible... consume them as soon as you are
able.

On Jan 17, 12:59*pm, "john eastwood" >
wrote:
> What's the best way of storing vegetables in the fridge. Usually coming from
> supermarkets they come in plastic bags. *But in the store when they break
> open mushrooms from the box in the plastic wrapping, they advise keeping the
> mushrooms in the fridge in a *paper bag*, which they provide free.
>
> Why would mushrooms benefit from being kept in the fridge in paper, and
> other green vegetables not, i wonder?

Paper bag IN plastic. Paper next to the veggies (absorbs sweating,
etc. while allowing airplow), and plastic to keep the air out and
prevent drying out.

It's the way I store broccoli, green beans and mushrooms. Works
wonderfully!

John Kuthe...

On Jan 17, 2:22*pm, "john eastwood" >
wrote:
> Thanks to all. *Would green vegetables benefit from being wrapped in paper
> when placed in the fridge then?- Hide quoted text -
I've found the best, long lasting solution for refer-storing washed
vegetables to be rinse, shake dry, loosely wrap in paper towling, and
store in a Green Bag with most all the air squeezed out. For 'shrooms
(do not wash unless immediate use intended) only brush off all the
dirt (I call it 'shroom dust) and store countertop in a folded over
brown "lunch" bag. 'Shrooms keep well that way, but need to be used
within three days becuase they'll dry up. ...Picky

"john eastwood" > wrote in message
...
> What's the best way of storing vegetables in the fridge. Usually coming
> from supermarkets they come in plastic bags. But in the store when they
> break open mushrooms from the box in the plastic wrapping, they advise
> keeping the mushrooms in the fridge in a *paper bag*, which they provide
> free.
>
> Why would mushrooms benefit from being kept in the fridge in paper, and
> other green vegetables not, i wonder?

Tomatoes are best left out at room temp., as are onions. I keep tomatoes in
a plastic basket and onions in wooden bins lined with paper towels.
Potatoes are also best kept at room temp. I keep those in a wooden bin.

I keep mushrooms in the fridge in a paper bag. The other things I might
leave in the plastic or I might just put them loose. Depends on how much I
have.

"john eastwood" > wrote:
-snip-
>
>Thanks to all. I know tomatoes dont taste so good when they first come
>'cold' out of the fridge, but making allowances for this would there be any
>other reason for not keeping tomatoes in the fridge?

I'm of the 'don't ever put a tomato in the refrigerator' school. It
kills the flavor I'm looking for in a tomato. And it never comes
back.

I'm in NY so I can only get farm fresh tomatoes about 4 months out of
the year. Most come from my garden after mid-July.

After about mid-October, I might buy a box of South American cherry
tomatoes for color-- but if I want flavor, I use canned tomatoes.

Jim

On Jan 18, 5:05*am, "john eastwood" >
wrote:

> Thanks to all. *I know tomatoes dont taste so good when they first come
> 'cold' out of the fridge, but making allowances for this would there be any
> other reason for not keeping tomatoes in the fridge?

If you're talking grocery store tomatoes, it doesn't matter.
They're not going to get much better or worse whatever
you do to them.

I read somewhere (and now I can't recall where; maybe
Cook's Illustrated), that refrigerating ripe tomatoes permanently
destroys chemicals that give ripe tomatoes much of their
flavor.

Another source says that refrigerating destroys cell
walls, rendering them mushy. I believe it.

> Since they definitely seem to keep for longer before going too soft if in
> the fridge. *I know ideally we would keep buying as fresh as possible, but
> its not aways convenient.

Perfectly ripe garden-grown tomatoes shouldn't be refrigerated.
Go ahead and refrigerate grocery-store tomatoes, and try
to remember to take 'em out of the fridge in time to warm up
before you eat them.

I buy a pint of grape tomatoes, graperomas, cherry tomatoes, or
some such once a week and keep them on the counter. The
pint is just about gone by the time the tomatoes are starting
to get wrinkly.

Cindy Hamilton