Tips for storing fresh food

[Barbararara]

I’ve searched for a thread about this but couldn’t find one.

Can anyone share any tips for storing fresh food? So far I know that potatoes do best in places that are cold, dry and dark; that apples last a long time in the fridge but never store bruised apples as they cause things to go off.
Is it better to remove plastic from fruit/veg trays or leave it intact?
Should you wash veg before storing or not?

And outside the fridge, are there things that should/shouldn’t be stored together. I have a vague memory of my granny tutting about keeping onions and potatoes together...and something about bread and cake?

Any tips gratefully received

Take fresh herbs out of the plastic wrap the ends in damp kitchen roll. They will last longer. Or chop immediately and freeze in little ice cube trays.

Root veg like cold dark places.

Consider batch cooking/Pre cooking veg to just reheat when wanted.

Or pickling. Pickling is divine!

I find carrots keep for weeks when stored crisper in the fridge in the plastic bag they come in. If one happens to fall out of the bag it's bad within the week. Same goes for broccoli. Fruit and vegetables should generally be stored separately as fruit need a lower humidity.

@Atalune It hadn’t occurred to me to precook veg, even though I have batch cooked all sorts! Funny how you can just miss an obvious connection!
@Luciey I’ll keep them in their bags so.

Celery will keep for a very long time in a container full of water inside the fridge.
Cut the bottom and remove leaves. Cut the celery in half if too long to fit container. Put the cut celery in container. Fill with cold water and store in fridge.

Cabbage will last forever if cut. I love cabbage salad and always slice the cabbage on the day I buy it. Thinly slice it or shred it and it will stay perfect in a container for weeks.
Or do sauerkraut. I love it.

Obviously now isn't the time to spend money or buy yet more things but dehydrators are great for this.
Perhaps less of a big change or expense, please look at growing stuff. Even in pots on the window ledge. Perpetual spinach for salad leaves or hidden veg in a soup is so easy to grow and it's a cut and come again crop. It survives even my TLC.
Or sprouting seeds. You don't need fancy kit for this. As a kid in the 70s and 80s, I used a big old jar with some net curtain held on by an elastic band. Another poster on here did it recently with some fenugreek seeds they had unwanted in their cupboard. I had success with mustard seeds that I must have bought for a recipe and never used again.
Broccoli seeds are good too.

You can apparently make a root vegetable storage 'cellar' from a really useful box filled with dry play-sand. Bury the veg in the sand and keep the box in a cool place. I'm trying this at the moment in case of lockdown even though there is plenty of veg still in the shops.

That’s a great idea @BestZebbie. I was considering digging a potato pit down the garden but that sounds a lot easier for a weakling like me

@LeGrandBleu I never knew that about cabbage or celery and both have rotted too easily in my keeping.

@bellinisurge I’m a bit scared of trying to sprout as I’ve read there’s a risk of poisoning. If it’s possible to do it wrong, I’m guaranteed to be the one to do it. But I think I’ll have to look into it further and get over my fears.

Lakeland sell some stay fresh longer bags that are good for fruit & veg. I ordered some recently from amazon & them found some in the cupboard