How to Make Fruits Stay Fresh Longer

When it comes to keeping your fruit fresh, or even ripening them, you consider yourself pretty savvy: You throw everything in the fridge crisper drawer — that's where they're all supposed to go, right? Isn't that what Old MacDonald himself would do?

Well, actually,ee-eye, ee-eye-NO.

Yes, that compartment can keepfruitsandveggiesfresh...that is,someproduce, sometimes. Some belong in the crisper, some just need refrigeration, and others can sit out on the kitchen counter for weeks. WEEKS! Sounds preposterous, but it's true.

And to make matters even more potentially rotten, not all produce get along. (Ever check out what goes on at the dog park? The discourse betweenapplesand cabbage can get just as rough.)

Here's what you need to keep in mind: Each type of produce has its own life expectancy, potentially shortened or extended by you. Some fruits do best out in the open at room temperature, others need chilling, and still others need chilling in a box. Some require complete, solitary confinement, and others can handle semi-confinement. And, finally, some emit and thrive on ethylene gas, whereas others exposed to the gas decay faster.

For the sake of your wallet — and the planet — we know you want to avoid food waste. To wit, here's our guide to keeping fruit fresh longer.

Ethylene producers:apples, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, peaches, pears, persimmon.

Ethylene sensitive:apples, bananas, cantaloupe, grapes, honeydew, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, peaches, pears, watermelon

Not ethylene sensitive:blueberries, cherries, grapefruit,oranges, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries.

So, what's the deal with the crisper drawer?

That drawer or two inside your fridge? If you fall on the novice end of the gourmand spectrum, you may think this is a super-convenient space to store, say, your ale. And while there's nothing wrong with that (and your ale will certainly meet with no harm), the crisper drawer actually serves a specific function.

For certain fruits and vegetables, the crisper drawer, also known as the humidity drawer, provides a secluded space to keep produce in its most ideal state — a place where it can stay freshest longest. The drawer lets you refrigerate fruits and veggies while separating them from other fridge tenants that may emit, say, ethylene gases, which can speed up decay. Plus, there may be humidity controls, allowing you to provide the ideal climate for residing produce.

As a general rule of thumb, use the low-humidity setting for anything that rots easily. That means apples, pears, avocados, melons, or stone fruits. The high-humidity drawer is great for anything that wilts — think thin-skinned vegetables, such as asparagus, or leafy vegetables, such as greens.

Mommy, where do fruit flies come from?

Fruit flies seem to magically appear from nowhere. But, we assure you, they're not supernatural bugs. In fact, like all insects, they hail from the outside world. After that, they either sneak into your home via an open door or window or hitch a ride on incoming fruit. Then it gets really unpleasant.

Have spoiled fruit lying around? The little buggers see rotting produce as the perfect maternity ward — a great place to lay eggs. And, so, this fruit hosts fruit fly nurseries, which result in a swarm of new baby fruit fly residents in your home.

So, how do you get rid of them? An easy DIY solution: Fill a cup or bowl with the lure of apple cider vinegar (they can't resist the scent). Cover tightly with plastic wrap (a rubber band helps) and poke a few tiny holes in the plastic. Fruit flies will check in, but they can't check out.