Easy life hacks that will help keep your fruit and veggies fresh

Fridges all over the country are bursting with leafy greens and crunchy veg and fruit bowls are stacked high as many of us try to embrace a healthier lifestyle in January.

But according to the Daily Mail, we're all too familiar with salad leaves rapidly wilting and veg going floppy before we've even had the chance to think about whipping up a salad. 

However, you can give your healthy produce an extended shelf life with clever preparation and storage hacks that will keep it fresher for longer, devised by AO.com 

Prepping your produce in the right way will also make sure it goes the distance, so while you might be eager to wash your berries to get rid of any lingering germs, timing is everything. 

KEEP LEAVES CRISPY 

Your diet will be in serious peril if your lettuce goes limp as there's nothing less appealing than soggy salad leaves. 

Take your leaves out of the packaging, place in a bowl and put a couple of paper towels of pieces of kitchen roll on top, before tightly covering with cling film and storing in the fridge.

This stops wilting by preventing prevents moisture from settling on the leaves, helping them to stay crisp. 

KEEP BULBS AWAY FROM LIGHT 

A bamboo steamer has a handy double use as a receptacle for storing onions and garlic. 

The steamer gives them a cool, well-ventilated home that protects them from the light. 

This will prevent sprouting, which means they’ll be edible for much longer.

MAKE USE OF EMPTY WATER BOTTLES  

Instead of throwing empty water bottles in the recycling, they can find new life as a storage vessel for spring onions. 

Chop up your spring onions, add them to the bottle and freeze.  

When you need them for a stir fry, stew or anything else, shake out what you need and return the rest to the freezer.

CREATE AN ASPARAGUS BOUQUET  

Wrap damp paper towels around the bases of your asparagus to keep them hydrated. 

Alternatively, you can put them upright in a glass with about an inch of water, to keep them hydrated and slow down wilting.

MIX APPLES AND POTATOES  

Store an apple or two in a ventilated bag with your potatoes and keep them in a cool, dry place. 

This will keep them from sprouting, due to gases emitted from the apple.

WRAP CARROTS IN FOIL 

Peel your fresh carrots and store them in a plastic bag, with as much oxygen squeezed out as possible, or aluminium foil in the fridge. 

Stored like this, they will last up to two weeks.

DON'T WASH TOO SOON 

Avoid washing your berries until right before you're ready to eat them. 

Moisture encourages mould growth, so they will go off quicker if you rinse them straight away and then put them in the fridge. 

If you use your berries for juice or smoothies, freeze them to keep them fresh for a later date.

CHOP OFF THE TOP OF A PINEAPPLE 

Cut the leafy tops off your pineapple and store it upside down. 

This helps redistribute the sugars that sink to the bottom during shipping and keeps it fresh for longer.

FREEZE YOUR HERBS 

Freeze leftover herbs in ice cube trays to retain their freshness. 

Just place the chopped herbs in an ice cube tray, fill with water and place them in the freezer. 

When you’re ready to use, just pop as many cubes as you need into your cooking and the water will evaporate, leaving you with fresh herbs every time.

- Daily Mail