Fruit Storage Ideas

Proper food storage involves organization, cleanliness, and minimizing waste all in one efficient system… basically all of the things we love most at A Clean Bee! Needless to say, I am excited to share these effective fruit storage ideas.

But before we talk about physical storage solutions for fruit and veggies, there are some foundational dos and don’ts that we should discuss first.

The Best Ways to Store Fruits and Veggies

Ultimately, when it comes to veggie and fruit storage solutions we need to focus on two things: groupings and temperature. 

Certain produce items are happiest when stored alone and others are perfectly fine stored with other items. The determining factor is how much ethylene gas any particular fruit or vegetable emits and/or can withstand. Produce that emits large amounts of ethylene gas tends to be best stored alone, while items that emit lower levels are safe to store together. 

Don’t worry too much about this yet because below I will detail exactly which items are safe to store together vs. alone.

When it comes to temperature, some produce will be happiest stored immediately in a refrigerator, others can be left to ripen on a countertop before tossing into the fridge. And then there are hardier fruits and veggies that are safe to store on your countertop or in a dark, cool pantry for extended periods of time.

Store in the Fridge Immediately

The following common fruits and vegetables will last the longest if stored in the fridge immediately upon bringing them home from the grocery store.

ALONE: Store these items alone in separate bowls or containers in the fridge.

• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Tomatoes

TOGETHER: These fruits and vegetables are ok to store together in the same fridge drawers, bowls, or containers.

• Asparagus
• Bell Peppers
• Berries
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Carrots
• Green Beans
• Grapes
• Okra
• Zucchini

Store in the Fridge Once Ripe

The following fruits and vegetables will last the longest when first given the chance to ripen at room temperature before being stored in a cold refrigerator. I primarily use serving bowls to store them on the counter and simply transfer the same bowls to my fridge once they are ripe!

ALONE:

• Apples
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Melons
• Mangoes
• Pears
• Peaches
• Plums

TOGETHER:

• Citrus Fruits
• Pineapples
• Watermelon

Store at Room Temperature on a Countertop or in a Pantry

The following veggies last well when stored on a countertop, but will last longest when stored in a dark, cool location like an enclosed pantry.

ALONE:

• Garlic
• Onions
• Shallots
• Squash

TOGETHER:

• Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoes

Creative Fruit Storage Ideas

Your choice of veggie and fruit storage solutions will depend largely on the size and layout of your kitchen. If you have limited countertop space, you might utilize hanging or wall-mounted storage. If you have a lot of excess floor space, you might invest in shelves or stackable crates to store your produce.

Regardless of your kitchen situation, here are a handful of common, popular veggie and fruit storage ideas.

Hanging Fruit Baskets

As a person who can’t stand clutter on her kitchen countertops, I am a big advocate for hanging fruit storage baskets. There are traditional hanging fruit baskets that hang from a ceiling hook, but there are also a ton of fantastic wall-mounted options worth considering as well. Below are a few of my favorites!

Produce Baskets, Bowls, and Vegetable Bins

I love using serving bowls to store my produce because they are modular and multi-purpose. I primarily use serving bowls to store fruits on my kitchen shelves as they ripen. Once ripe, I simply transfer the serving bowl from the shelf to the fridge. I use produce baskets in the same way. 

Plus when serving bowls aren’t being used to store produce, I can use them to serve meals or appetizers to friends and family. Produce baskets can double as awesome organizing tools in a pantry or elsewhere in the home. You can never have too many baskets, in my opinion!

Storage Crate Keepers and Stackable Wooden Storage Bins

If you have a large pantry or excess shelf space, then utilizing crate keepers and wooden storage bins for organizing fruit and vegetables is a great option to consider.

Free Standing Produce Storage Solutions

If you have limited shelf, counter, and wall-space but have some extra square footage then a free standing storage solution might be your best bet! These are great for storing produce against an open wall or tucked in a free corner of your kitchen. 

For instance, in my own kitchen, I opted out of the designated “breakfast nook” and installed shelves to expand our pantry storage instead! Below are a handful of additional shelving options perfect for fruit, veggie, or other pantry storage.