My Little ROCK – Reliable Organised Cooking Kitchen
Who doesn’t like fruit? Its beautiful, tasty and good for you!!! Below are some storage hints and general information on fruit.
Apples
- There are more than 7,000 varieties of apples in the world.
- Select apples with a good colour and a smooth skin.
- Keep refrigerated in a vented plastic bag.
Apricots
- You can use a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife to peel an apricot.
- Chose apricots that are plump, evenly coloured and fairly soft.
- Store apricots unwrapped in the crisper of the fridge.
Avocados
- To prevent an avocado from discolouring once cut brush the surface with lemon juice.
- To remove the stone cut the avocado in half and hold the half with the stone in one hand and tap it with a sharp knife with the other hand. While the knife is in the stone give it a gentle twist and it should remove easily.
- Store unwrapped in the refrigerator.
- Ready to eat when they feel slightly soft when gently squeezed.
Bananas
- Banana’s come in many colours from small red and yellow skinned to large black plantains.
- Green banana’s can be cooked and served in savoury dishes.
- You can boil, fry, curry, grill and bake a banana.
- Banana leaves can be used when wrapping and cooking food.
- Plantains are never eaten raw and always cooked.
- When choosing banana’s they should have bright yellow to golden skin and appear well rounded
- Keep banana’s unwrapped at room temperature.
Blackberries
- You can freeze blackberries.
- Don’t wash blackberries until you’re ready to use them.
Blueberries
- You can freeze blueberries.
- Pick berries that are firm and plump.
- Keep your blueberries covered in the fridge.
Cherries
- Cherries are closely related to plums.
- You can buy cherry pitters to remove the seeds of cherries.
- Buy cherries that are firm, bright and uniform in colour. The stems should be green.
- Store cherries in a vented plastic bag in the fridge.
Coconuts
- Used in savoury and sweet dishes.
- Shake your coconut and listen for the coconut water inside before you buy it. If you can’t hear the liquid its too old and will have a soapy taste.
- A good coconut is a heavy coconut!
Dragon Fruit
- Dragon fruit is also called Pitaya.
- Dragon fruit comes in red, pink and yellow.
- The dragon fruit skin should not be eaten.
Grapes
- Grapes make wine….I love wine!!!!
- Choose grapes with their stems attached that are smooth and plump.
- Keep your grapes in the fridge in a vented plastic bag.
Kiwi Fruit
- To prepare a kiwi fruit cut off the top and bottom and then remove the skin with a sharp knife or vegetable peeler.
- Pick Kiwi fruit that has a good shape and are light to medium brown in colour.
- Kiwi fruit should be stored in the crisper of the fridge.
Lemons
- Freeze lemon juice in ice cube containers then put into plastic bags.
- Choose lemons that are firm, heavy and good coloured.
- Keep lemons in the fridge uncovered.
Limes
- Pick limes that are firm and heavy for their size.
- Keep limes uncovered in the fridge crisper.
Mandarins
- Store mandarins in the fridge uncovered. This can extend their shelf life for up to two weeks.
- Select mandarins that are unblemished and heavy for their size.
- To prepare a mandarin remove the skin and separate into segments.
Mangoes
- Mangoes need to be peeled before they are used.
- Store mangos wrapped in the fridge.
- Mangos are a great source of vitamin A and C.
Melon – Honeydew
- Choose melons that are firm, heavy, good coloured aroma.
Melon – Rockmelon
- Choose melons that are firm, heavy, good coloured aroma.
- Also called a cantaloupe.
Melon – Watermelon
- Choose melons that are firm, heavy, good coloured aroma.
Nectarines
- To help remove the skin of a nectarine place it in a bowl of boiling water covering it and then drain immediately.
- Store in the fridge uncovered.
- Chose smooth, plump highly coloured nectarines.
Oranges
- Keep your oranges in the fridge uncovered.
- Pick oranges that are firm and heavy for their size.
Passionfruit
- Store your passionfruit in the fridge in a plastic bag.
- Chose passionfruit that are heavy with a smooth dark purple skin.
Paw Paw
- The paw paw continues to ripen at room temperature so keep it in the fridge to make it last longer.
- Store paw paw wrapped in paper towel in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge.
Peaches
- There are two types of peaches: free stone and cling stone.
- Keep your peaches in the fridge uncovered.
- Pick peaches that are firm and have a good colour.
Pears
- Pears can be eaten with or without their skin.
- Choose pears that have good colour and are slightly soft around the stem area.
- Store your peaches in the fridge uncovered.
Pineapples
- A good pineapple is a green colour with golden colours coming through, they smell sweet.
- Keep your pineapple in the fridge uncovered.
Plums
- Use a sharp knife or vegetable peeler to peel a plum, or just eat the skin!
- Pick the plums that are plump, bright and have smooth skin.
- Store plums uncovered in the fridge.
Pomegranate
- Use a bowl of water to separate your pomegranate seeds and membrane, the seeds sink to the bottom and the membrane floats at the top.
Raspberries
- Chose raspberries that are firm, dry and have a rich colour.
- Store your raspberries covered in the fridge.
Rambutan
- The rambutan comes in red and yellow varieties.
- Sometimes referred to as a hairy fruit.
- The taste is similar to a lychee.
Strawberries
- Store strawberries in a reusable plastic container lined with a paper towel in the fridge.
- Strawberries freeze really well. To prepare them for freezing gently wash them, dry, and remove the green cap. Lay them on a flat tray to freeze and then transfer them to a plastic bag. You can freeze strawberries for up to 6 months.
- Do not wash strawberries until you are ready to use them (Unless of course your about to freeze them).
- Choose strawberries that are bright in colour.
NOTES:
Vegetable Crisper: The drawer / bin in the fridge that is designed to store fruit and vegetables.
Plastic Bag: Clip zip bag or zip lock bag.
Reusable plastic container: Tupperware.
Do you have any more information on the fruits listed above? If so feel free to comment below so that I can include the information on the page.
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