Tips for Buying and Storing Produce Without Plastic

This Plastic Free July I’m here to help with my top tips for buying and storing produce without plastic. All it takes is a few small changes and you’ll reduce your weekly waste significantly. Plus, your fruit and veggies will still stay perfectly fresh! As always, I’d love to hear your tips as well!

Tips for Buying and Storing Produce Without Plastic | I Spy Plum Pie

Tips for Buying Produce Plastic Free

  • Get yourself some reusable produce bags for small, loose items instead of using plastic bags
  • Meal plan so you can buy things like a whole pumpkin or cauliflower, rather than the pre-wrapped halves
  • Shop at a fruit & vegetable shop or farmer’s market as they are much less likely to pre-package their produce
  • Grow your own herbs as they can be really tricky to find without packaging (and they can be grown even in the smallest of places!)

Tips for Buying and Storing Produce Without Plastic | I Spy Plum Pie

Tips for Storing Produce Plastic Free

  • Store anything that doesn’t need refrigeration in a fruit bowl on your bench. I use a old three-tiered cake stand so I can separate items and see everything I’ve got. Tomatoes, apples, stone fruit and the like are all happiest out of the fridge.
  • Pop herbs like parsley and other leafy greens in a small jar of water on your bench, and change the water every few days
  • Use reusable wraps to keep cut produce fresh instead of glad-wrap

Tips for Buying and Storing Produce Without Plastic | I Spy Plum Pie

  • For veggies that tend to lose their crispness, store them in a container with a lid or stand them in a container with a little water in the bottom. Glass containers are best, but if you’ve got (BPA-free) plastic ones already, no need to buy anything new
  • Wrap salad leaves in a damp tea towel
  • Store loose potatoes, sweet potatoes, garlic and onion in a cool, dark spot
  • Try something like this Swag Bag, which you dampen then just pop your veggies in. I bought one to try out recently and I’m loving it so far!
  • If you’re after tips for specific fruits or veggies this guide from Washington’s Green Grocer is excellent!

Tips for Buying and Storing Produce Without Plastic | I Spy Plum Pie

I hope these tips for buying and storing produce without plastic were helpful!

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1 Comment on Tips for Buying and Storing Produce Without Plastic

  1. Moni | Thoughts of a Moni
    July 20, 2017 at 9:24 am (7 years ago)

    This is the one I struggle with the most. I do a fortnightly fruit and veggie shop at the market, and I always go at the end of the day, when they bag all the produce and sell it discounted.
    This has environmental benefits, because I only need to travel once to do a big shop, and I also buy in bulk and share the produce with my parents. I also like shopping at the market and supporting small business.
    But it does mean that I come home with 12 – 15 small plastic bags… because they bag it, they won’t let me use my own bags, so I’m not sure how to avoid this situation…
    Moni | Thoughts of a Moni recently posted…Our Wedding Weekend Part I – The Bengali Wedding

    Reply

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