When you’re cooking for one, it’s often important to choose foods that will store for a while since you cook a smaller amount than you would for a family. One of the things I always threw away in days past was rotten vegetables. I’d go to the store with all these great ambitions to make great things, only to find out that the vegetables I bought on Monday barely kept until Thursday. This was due to three things:

  1. I didn’t know what vegetables were seasonal (ones that tend to rot faster in their off months because they’ve traveled farther).
  2. I didn’t know what the average shelf life was of the vegetables I was buying – in or out of season.
  3. I didn’t know how to properly store them to get the longevity I needed.

Some vegetables only have a short shelf life once they’ve left the store and you can’t change that, even with the proper storage. The key is to plan to use those vegetables sooner over the ones that can store longer if you’re like me and do all your shopping for the week on the weekends.

Hopefully this chart will help you – I’ve listed a lot of the common vegetables. I’d love to add to this chart if you have more tips to send! (Write them in the comment field below and I will add!)

 

Artichoke, Globe Buds will keep several weeks at room temperature or up to two weeks in the refrigerator crisper. Keep them dry in a plastic bag.
Artichoke, Jerusalem As with other root crops, the simplest method of storage is to leave it in the ground. It keeps 1 month in a dark, cool place away from intense cold. Keeps well in boxes packed with peat moss.
Asparagus Fresh asparagus will keep in the refrigerator 7-10 days after harvesting. Break off the rough ends and stand upright in 1 inch of water or store in a plastic bag and put in the crisper.
Bean, Broad Keep freshly harvested pods in the refrigerator up to two weeks. Shelled beans can be dried.
Bean, climbing or dwarf Do not wash after harvest. Keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. They can be canned or pickled.
Beet Roots will keep for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator and the leaves for up to a week if stored in an airtight plastic bag.
Broccoli Heads will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Brussels Sprouts Early winter sprouts left on the stem and hung in a cool dry place will keep for up to a month. Singly harvested, they will keep for 7-10 days in the refrigerator in a plastic bag or container. In both cases, remove all discolored leaves and wash just before using.
Cabbage Heads will keep for several weeks in the crisper compartment of the refrigerator. Cabbage can be pickled as sauerkraut.
Carrots Carrots will remain crisp in the refrigerator for 4 weeks or so if protected in plastic bags. They can be pickled or canned.
Cauliflower Keep in the refrigerator up to a week.
Celery Stalks will stay crisp for up to 10 days in the refrigerator.
Chayote Freshly picked chayote will keep in the vegetable crisper for 1-2 weeks.
Chilies Keep in a cool, dark place for up to a week or in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. Dried they can last for month if kept in a plastic or glass container with a top.
Chinese Broccoli Keep in the refrigerator crisper for up to a week.
Chinese Cabbage Keeps well in the refrigerator for several weeks. Keeps for months in a cool, dry place such as a cellar. When ready to use, discard outer discolored and battered leaves. Interior leaves will be firm. Never store in plastic bags.
Chinese Spinach Leaves should be picked and eaten immediately since they go limp after harvesting. Good in salads or steamed. Not recommended for long-term storage.
Cucumber Keep in refrigerator for 7-10 days. The flesh turns soft and translucent (and inedible) at very cold temperatures.
Eggplant Fresh fruit will keep 7-10 days in the refrigerator.
Endive Will keep up to two weeks in the crisper.
Fennel Keeps for four days in the crisper. Ideal to use when purchased as the flavor decreases as it ages.
Garlic Leaves are left attached to the bulb then left to dry in clumps in full sun for a few days. Never let the bulbs get wet. Hang in an open mesh bag in a dry, airy location. If peeled, keep in an air-tight container for up to a 1 week in a cool, dark, dry place.
Ginger Mature rhizomes store well in a cool, dry place. If stored too long the flesh becomes dry and the flavor becomes bitter. Once dried, it can be ground into powder.
Kohlrabi Bulbs can be stored in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.
Leek Keeps 7-10 days in the refrigerator.
Lettuce Keeps 7-10 days in the crisper.
Marrow Squash Handle carefully and do not wash or brush skin. Keep up to a week in the refrigerator.
Mushrooms Store in the refrigerator 5-7 days. Do not store in plastic bags. They m
Okra Will keep a few days in the refrigerator.
Onion Store bulbs in a cool, dry place in an open weave mesh basket or bag to allow free air circulation. Do not store with other vegetables.
Parsnip Freshly harvested vegetables will keep in the refrigerator 2-3 weeks. They may keep a week or two in a cool, dry cupboard.
Peas Pods keep for a short time in the refrigerator. They quickly loose their sugar content. Some varieties freeze well. Peas are best picked and quickly prepared.
Pepper Sweet and bell peppers will keep up to a week in the refrigerator. They make great pickles, and hot varieties can be dried.
Potato Keep harvested potatoes in a cool, dark place with good air circulation. Young or “new” potatoes should not be stored long.
Pumpkin Handle carefully and do not wash or brush the skin of fruit before storing. Keep for several months in a cool, airy place or in boxes. Check occasionally for rotting or damage to skin and flesh.
Radishes Keep 7-10 days in the refrigerator crisper.
Rutabaga Rutabagas have a long storage period in or out of the refrigerator.
Shallot Bulbs will keep in a cold, dry place for several months or the flesh may be chopped and frozen.
Snow Peas Pods keep for a short time in the refrigerator but will lose their sugar content within a few days.
Spinach Leaves will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week but they are better if eaten immediately.
Squash Handle carefully and do not wash or brush skin of fruit before usage. Keeps up to a week in the refrigerator.
Sugar Snap Peas Pods keep for a short time in the refrigerator. The seeds will lose a great deal of sugar content within a few days.
Sweet Corn Sweet corn quickly looses its sugar content and the kernels become starchy. Use as soon as possible. Freezes well.
Sweet Potato Do not wash before storing. Will keep up to 4 months. Do not refrigerate.
Swiss Chard Keeps up to 2 weeks in the crisper but is best eaten when freshly picked.
Taro Root Will keep several months in a cool, dry place.
Tomato Tomatoes will keep 2-4 weeks in the refrigerator although they tend to lose flavor over long periods. They can be pulped then bottled or processed into soups and sauces and frozen.
Turnips Can be stored in or out of the refrigerator.
Water Chestnut Examine the vegetable for rotten spots and remove damaged corms. Unpeeled, they will keep in bags in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If peeled, store in water to prevent browning for up to 2 weeks. Water must be changed daily. They can be dried and ground into a flour. Flavor and texture is lost by canning.
White Radish If the root is solid, it will keep in the refrigerator at very low temperatures for several weeks. They can be eaten raw, cooked, dried, pickled, fermented or preserved in brine.
Witloof Witloof does not store well and becomes limp soon after exposure to light. A greening of leaves indicates development of a bitter taste.
Zucchini Handle carefully and do not wash or brush the skin before storing. They will keep up to a week in the refrigerator.

 

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