Fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet. So you want to be sure that you always choose the freshest and tastiest produce for your meals. Here are tips for picking the best piece of some the most popular fruits and veggies.
Fruits
- Apples. Apples range in color from yellow or green to dark red. Look for apples that are rich in color and firm.
- Avocado. Ripe avocado should yield to gentle pressure, but shouldn’t be too soft. If it’s too hard, it can be left out and will ripen in a few days.
- Bananas. Ripe bananas are yellow, with a little bit of brown speckles. If bananas are still a little green, store them at room temperature and allow them to ripen at home
- Cantaloupes. This fruit has a slightly sweet smell and should yield slightly to touch. Ripe fruit can stay up to a week in the refrigerator; cut up fruit keeping well for a few days.
- Oranges. In general, the heavier the fruit, the juicier it will be. Stay away from oranges that have coarse or thick skin.
- Peaches. Peaches taste best when they are left on the tree to ripen. The peach season is fairly short in comparison to other fruits, but they also perish quickly.
- Strawberries. Firm fruit with the cap still attached are best. Avoid those that have large uncolored areas. Strawberries are overripe when they become too soft, but are still great in smoothies.
Vegetables
- Bell peppers. Peppers come in red, yellow and green. The red are the sweetest and ripest of the bunch. Look for peppers that are smooth. Also, give it a shake. If you hear seeds rattling around, it means the pepper is overripe.
- Broccoli. Look for broccoli with dark green heads with compact clusters. The clusters should not be open, which is a sign of being overripe.
- Carrots. Carrots should be a rich orange and firm. Store carrots in the vegetable bin for few weeks.
- Cauliflower. Like broccoli, look for a compact head. Steer clear of heads that are blemished or discolored. Cauliflower can be stored in the vegetable crisper for up to a week.
- Cucumbers. Cucumbers should be hard and green. Avoid those that are yellowish. Store these veggies in the fridge for up to a week.
- Mushrooms. For mushrooms, check the gills or the underside of the caps. If the gills are open, it’s a sign that the mushroom is past its prime. Also, choose those with gills that are lighter in color.
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Picking the right produce will give you the most nutrients and vitamins. Use this post as a guide to help you pick the best produce.