How to Store Winter Veggies and Greens

As we enter into our Winter CSA, we want to make sure our farm members know how to store all their winter veggies. Here’s our guide to keeping those veggies and greens fresh as long as possible!

Note: We wash all our greens before packing them, so you can eat them straight from the bag. If you’re storing greens from the grocery store or another source, we recommend washing and spinning them dry before following the storage tips in this post. 

Apples: Store loose in the crisper drawer in your fridge. If possible, keep separate from other produce. Apples produce ethylene gas, which causes the apples to continue to ripen and also causes other produce to ripen more quickly.

Beets: Store the beets in an airtight bag or container in the fridge. Store the greens in a separate airtight bag or container in the fridge.

Brussel sprouts: Remove sprouts from the stalk, using this method illustrated by Farmer Dan. Remove any brown or yellowing leaves from the sprouts, then store the sprouts in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the fridge. Alternatively, if you have enough room in your fridge, keep the sprouts on the stalk, loosely wrap the stalk and store in your fridge.

Cabbage: Store in a loose, unsealed plastic bag in the crisper drawer.

Carrots: Store the carrots in an airtight bag or container in the fridge. Store the tops in a separate airtight bag or container in the fridge.

Celeriac: Store in an unsealed plastic bag with a dry paper towel in your fridge’s crisper drawer.

Garlic: Store in a cool, dark spot with relative humidity, like a basement with a dehumidifier. 

Leeks: Wrap loosely in plastic wrap or an unsealed plastic bag and store in the crisper drawer. Do not trim until ready to use.

Parsley: Place parsley upright in jar with the bottom of the herbs in about an inch of water. Cover loosely with a plastic bag and store in the fridge. Replace water every 2-3 days.

Parsnips: Store loosely in an unsealed plastic bag in the crisper drawer.

Potatoes: Store in a paper bag or cardboard box (not plastic!) in a cool, dark place. 

Rutabagas: Store loosely in an unsealed plastic bag in the crisper drawer. 

Salad kale: For bagged salad kale, slip a paper towel into the side of the bag. This helps reduce moisture and keeps the kale crisp. Store the sealed bag in the fridge.

Salad mixes: For bagged salad greens, slip a paper towel into the side of the bag. This helps reduce moisture and keeps the greens crisp. Store the sealed bag in the fridge.

Salad spinach: For bagged salad spinach, slip a paper towel into the side of the bag. This helps reduce moisture and keeps the spinach crisp. Store the sealed bag in the fridge.

Watermelon radish: Store in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer.