Organization · Fresh produce

Organize produce drawers by humidity and ripening

Separate produce by preferred humidity and keep ethylene-producing fruit away from sensitive items.

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Not all produce belongs in the same drawer. US EPA guidance places many wilting-prone vegetables in higher humidity and many ripening or rotting-prone fruits in lower humidity, while noting that some produce should be kept outside the refrigerator. Follow the needs of each item.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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First check which produce items actually require refrigeration and which should ripen at room temperature.
If the refrigerator has humidity-controlled drawers, read the appliance manual to find the high/low settings.
Use relatively higher humidity for suitable leafy vegetables and other produce prone to wilting.
Consider a lower-humidity setting for suitable fruits or produce prone to rotting, checking item-specific guidance.
Separate ethylene-producing fruit such as apples, bananas and pears from ethylene-sensitive items where practical.
Wash berries shortly before eating, and inspect drawers regularly to remove spoiled produce.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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