It's the most budget-friendly way to keep my fridge stocked with produce.
Whenever I go to the grocery store, I have to be honest with myself about how much I need to buy. Obviously, I go when I’m not hungry—that’s a rookie mistake that I’ve made too many times to count. (My best grocery routine involves getting Taco Bell for lunch or dinner before I head to the store. That way I pair a treat with a chore, and I feel like I won.)
But the main reason is that I always end up buying too much produce. Somehow I think I’m magically going to eat three salads a day and then another one for dessert. This is not and never will be the case; I’m too obsessed with making nostalgic magic cakes for dessert! So using up all my produce before it goes bad is a tricky balance.
I was recently looking at a report that surveyed 834 registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) about food trends in 2026. And the number one recommendation that they gave consumers? Eat more servings of vegetables per day. And if you’re going to increase your veggie intake, you need to make sure they stay fresh. Luckily, I have a very helpful trick for keeping produce fresh. Oh, and did I mention that it’s free?
My Easy Hack for Keeping Produce Fresh
Sure, you could buy a produce keeper if you really wanted to—but I’m not about to spend money that I don’t need to right now. All you need for my hack is your food storage container of choice and a paper towel. That’s it! Honestly, I don’t even remember where I learned this trick. I’ve been doing it for so long that it’s second nature at this point.
After washing your produce, let it drain and pat it dry. Then, place it inside your storage container, and place a paper towel on top. You can tear or fold the paper towel to fit the shape of the container. Next, snap your lid on tight.
When you put it in the fridge, turn it upside down. I’m serious!
Why This Storage Hack Works
The trick to keeping produce fresh—especially delicate things like leafy greens and berries—is to minimize the amount of moisture trapped inside the storage container with the food. By flipping the container upside down, any residual water left on the fruit and veg will be absorbed by the paper towel. When you open the container, you can feel the paper towel to check the moisture level. If the towel becomes too damp, throw it out and use a fresh one.
My favorite way to use this trick is with a big container of chopped lettuce. I’ll buy a bag of romaine hearts, wash them, chop them up and keep them in the fridge. Then I have perfectly crisp lettuce that I can grab for easy salads throughout the week. It has definitely helped me increase my veggie intake, so the RDNs of the world should be proud!
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