How To Store Fruits and Vegetables for Winter
- 1). Scout for a cold, well-ventilated area in your home. The basement is generally the ideal place to store vegetables, but you can build an outside storage shed or something similar. If you have a furnace or warm pipes in your basement, you may want to hang a barrier to protect your vegetables from the heat. The corner of the room you allot for the crates should have a window to ensure proper ventilation, but make sure no sun comes in. The ideal temperature for storing fruits and vegetables is 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2). Select your storage containers. A good container should have smooth insides that lack wire or sharp protrusions that can puncture your produce. Shipping boxes for soft produce like grapes or tomatoes are prime storage containers.
- 3). Examine the fruits and vegetables carefully for cuts, scratches, cracks or bruises. Damaged produce does not last long, and can compromise the quality and edibility of your entire harvest.
- 4). Place the full crates in the area you have allotted them. Open the crates periodically to ensure that none of the fruit is rotting or damaged. Sweep and dust the crates to keep the place tidy and your produce clean.