fruit storage

Money is tight these days, so after spending your hard-earned cash on nutritious produce, don't just toss it in the fridge willy-nilly. Use these tips on storing your produce so your fruits and veggies last until you're ready to enjoy them.

Broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, celery, corn, carrots, and scallions: Store these in separate plastic bags. Poke holes in the bags so the veggies can breathe, and then store them in the crisper, the coldest part of the fridge.

Cucumbers, peppers, and Summer squash: These veggies need to be in the warmest part of the fridge, the top shelf. These should also be in separate perforated plastic bags.

To see how you should store other types of produce, read more

If you plan on making lemonade or a batch of cocktails that require fresh citrus juice, be sure to use citrus that is at room temperature. According to Food & Wine Cocktails 09, refrigerated citrus will yield up to a third less liquid than fruit at room temperature. To bring cold citrus to room temperature quickly, soak the fruit in really hot water for five minutes before squeezing. Ironically enough, when a recipe calls for citrus zest it's best to use the fruit right out of the fridge.

Do you normally store your lemons, limes, and oranges on the counter or in the fridge?