Ultimate Guide to Fresh Fruits and Veggies

If you're clueless when it comes to picking out produce, use our how-to guide for choosing the freshest fruits and veggies at your local farmers market or grocery.

Apricots, Peaches, Plums

• Pick: Fruit that is firm, with a taut, unblemished skin and no signs of bruising or wrinkles.
• Store: Ripen at room temperature, until tender. Apricots can be kept for 2 days, maximum. Once plums are ripe, refrigerate up to 3 days.
• Use: Cook with sugar (1 pound of fruit per 2 cups sugar) on the stove until thickened for a delicious jam.
• Tip: Vitamin A–rich stone fruits work with savory dishes; try sauteing, grilling, or roasting them to serve with duck, chicken, or pork.

Blackberries and Raspberries

• Pick: Plump, juicy berries with a shine (blackberries) or luster (raspberries), without any trace of mold or discoloration.
• Store: If eating within 24 hours, store at room temperature; otherwise, wrap loosely in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Wash just before using.
• Use: Blackberries and raspberries are delicious raw or in baked goods, but theyre also a great addition to savory dishes.
• Tip: To freeze antioxidant-packed blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cherries, wash and let dry completely, then place them in a single layer on a tray in the freezer until solid. Transfer to a zip-top bag and store in the freezer.

Next Page: Cherries [ pagebreak ]Cherries

• Pick: Fruit with a glossy sheen and deep, rich color.
• Store: Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 2 days.
• Use: Pitted sweet cherries are delicious in yogurt, desserts, or even as a sweet topping for grilled meat.
• Tip: To pit several cherries at once, place them in a zip-top bag and roll over them gently with a rolling pin so they split. Remove from the bag, pluck out pits, and enjoy this antioxidant-rich fruit.

Blueberries

• Pick: Plump, firm berries that arent shrunken or wrinkled. The color should be rich with a powdery white cast.
• Store: Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 6 days.
• Use: Blueberries are delicious as a cereal topping, stirred into yogurt, or baked into a cobbler. And their intense flavor makes for a great frozen dessert.
• Tip: Gently rinse fiber-packed berries by dunking them in a bowl of cold water just before using; drain in a colander.

Strawberries

• Pick: Berries with a bright red color throughout and a healthy, green stem; size will vary depending on the variety.
• Store: If eating within a few hours, keep at room temperature; otherwise, wrap loosely in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Wash just before using.
• Use: Slice strawberries to top shortbread or ice cream, or simply serve them whole.
• Tip: For an easy dessert full of vitamin C, drizzle sliced berries with balsamic vinegar or a splash of Champagne.

Next Page: Summer squash [ pagebreak ]Summer Squash

• Pick: Small but heavy squash with glossy skin.
• Store: In a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Use: All varieties are delicious raw, steamed, sauteed, or grilled. Pattypan and crookneck squashes have a milder taste that pairs well with fresh herbs. The bright orange blossoms from squash plants are also delicious when added to a stir-fry.
• Tip: Grate too-large zucchini into soups, sauces, or muffin batter to get a quick a boost of vitamins A and C.

Tomatoes

• Pick: Plump tomatoes with fully developed color that yield to the touch without being mushy.
• Store: Ripen at room temperature, stem-side down. Never refrigerate.
• Use: Choose slicing tomatoes like Brandywine or Mortgage Lifters for salads and sandwiches, and the firmer-fleshed Amish Paste or San Marzano for sauces.
• Tip: Cut overripe tomatoes in half and smear the lycopene-rich flesh on toasted bread drizzled with olive oil for a quick bruschetta.

Green Beans

• Pick: Smaller beans, which are typically most tender, and look for ones that are firm, with a slight sheen and no wrinkles.
• Store: Rinse, air dry, and store in a ventilated plastic bag in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Use: Beans can be steamed or quickly boiled until crisp-tender and served warm. For salads, cook them a bit longer and plunge into an ice bath.
• Tip: If your beans are larger and a bit tougher, try braising them. To braise: Saute fiber- and folic acid–rich beans in olive oil, then add wine or broth to the pan, cover, and simmer until tender.

Cucumbers

• Pick: Firm, rounded cukes, with bright to dark green skin. Avoid any with soft spots or shriveled ends.
• Store: Keep them in loose plastic bags in the fridge for up to 3 days. Wrap leftovers in plastic or a sealed container.
• Use: Slice and dice to give salads a crunch or puree for cold soups or dips. Remove the seeds by cutting lengthwise and scraping them out with a spoon.
• Tip: Buy unwaxed cucumbers, so you can eat the skin (full of fiber and vitamins A and C) without eating the waxy coating.