Whether you have just arrived home from the market or received a beautiful fresh fruit hamper, your goal is obviously to keep any fresh produce as fresh aas possible for as long as possible. Unfortunately, many of us tend to make some common mistakes every day that cause our fruit and veg to spoil sooner than they should.

The first thing to remember is that there are a number of types of fruit that emit a certain type of gas that causes other fruit to ripen faster. In other words, this can result in fruit ripening so fast that it spoils. If you are trying to help certain, like avocados, ripen, you can place them next to a few bananas until they are ready to eat.

Wrapping your vegetables or fruit up or keeping them in bags will also make them spoil faster. Fresh produce needs to breathe which is another reason not to package them tightly or pile too many on top of one another.

If you wash your fruit or veggies just before packing them away, it can cause them to spoil faster. Sure, you want to make sure that they are clean but the extra moisture can actually cause the fresh produce to go bad really quickly.

Finally, don’t forget that some fruit and veg belongs in the fridge while others should be stored in a cool, dark place. Some produce, when chilled in the fridge, will actually spoil faster due to the added humidity in the fridge.

The best thing you can do when you receive a large quantity of fruit, for example, is to separate everything into various bowls and place the bowls on the kitchen and dining room tables. By keeping the fruit in visible places, you will encourage everyone to tuck in when they are in the mood for a snack and this means that the fruit will be enjoyed before it has time to go bad.