If you store these fruits together they will spoil sooner. The trick to make them last longer!
Having a fruit bowl bursting with colors and aromas is one of those things that make us feel that we have a well-stocked kitchen ready to satisfy any craving in a healthy way. But beware, because what looks like an idyllic image is actually a mistake: it makes certain fruits ripen earlier than expected. And there are few things more frustrating than opening the fruit bowl and finding overripe bananas or pears that have gone from being perfect to having the texture of a compote. You bought everything just a few days ago and now you have to run to try to make the most of what you can before it ends up in the trash. And, of course, with prices as they are, it's not the time to waste food.
If you want your shopping to last longer and reduce food waste (and money), it's time to put some order in the fruit bowl. Here's how.
The culprit: a gas called ethylene
The key to all this lies in ethylene, a gas that some fruits release naturally and that accelerates their own ripening and that of those nearby. Not all fruits react the same way to this gas, which is why it is so important to know which ones produce it and which ones are affected.
Climacteric and non-climacteric fruits: what you need to know
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty: there are two main groups of fruits according to their behavior after harvest:
- Climacteric fruits are those that continue to ripen once harvested, such as bananas, pears, peaches or apples. These are precisely the ones that generate ethylene.
- Non-climacteric fruits, which once harvested do not evolve much more and are not so affected by ethylene. This is the case of grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits or pineapple.
So, how do we organize the fruit bowl?
Easy: you have to separate. If you put together climacteric and non-climacteric fruits, the latter will ripen earlier than they should and will end up rotting prematurely.
Climacteric fruits (those that are still ripening) should go in a separate fruit bowl. Bananas, pears, peaches, apples, figs and melon, better together.
Non-climacteric fruits (those that are not still ripening) can be in another space without worrying too much. This would include grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, pineapple, pomegranate and citrus fruits.
To make it perfect
In addition to this tip, here are some extra tricks to make your fruits last longer:
- Don't store bananas in closed bags, because they accumulate too much ethylene and fly away.
- If any climacteric fruit is already overripe, keep it away from the others so that it does not accelerate the process.
Less waste, more flavor
Following these recommendations not only makes your fruits last longer and taste better, but also reduces the amount of food that ends up in the garbage. So, organize your fruit bowl and you will notice the difference!
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Patricia
