{"id":662,"date":"2001-09-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2001-09-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/food-ultimate-guide-to-fresh-fruits-and-veggies\/"},"modified":"2001-09-10T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2001-09-10T00:00:00","slug":"food-ultimate-guide-to-fresh-fruits-and-veggies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/food-ultimate-guide-to-fresh-fruits-and-veggies\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Guide to Fresh Fruits and Veggies"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

Apricots, Peaches, Plums<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Pick:<\/em> Fruit that is firm, with a taut, unblemished skin and no signs of bruising or wrinkles.<\/li>\n
Store: <\/em>Ripen at room temperature, until tender. Apricots can be kept for 2 days, maximum. Once plums are ripe, refrigerate up to 3 days.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> Cook with sugar (1 pound of fruit per 2 cups sugar) on the stove until thickened for a delicious jam.<\/li>\n
Tip: <\/em>Vitamin A–rich stone fruits work with savory dishes; try sauteing, grilling, or roasting them to serve with duck, chicken, or pork. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Blackberries and Raspberries<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick:<\/em> Plump, juicy berries with a shine (blackberries) or luster (raspberries), without any trace of mold or discoloration.<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n
Use: <\/em>Blackberries and raspberries are delicious raw or in baked goods, but theyre also a great addition to savory dishes.<\/li>\n
Tip:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Next Page: Cherries<\/a> [ pagebreak ]Cherries<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick: <\/em>Fruit with a glossy sheen and deep, rich color.<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 2 days.<\/li>\n
Use: <\/em>Pitted sweet cherries are delicious in yogurt, desserts, or even as a sweet topping for grilled meat.<\/li>\n
Tip: <\/em>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Blueberries<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick:<\/em> Plump, firm berries that arent shrunken or wrinkled. The color should be rich with a powdery white cast.<\/li>\n
Store: <\/em>Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 6 days.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n
Tip:<\/em> Gently rinse fiber-packed berries by dunking them in a bowl of cold water just before using; drain in a colander.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Strawberries<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick: <\/em>Berries with a bright red color throughout and a healthy, green stem; size will vary depending on the variety.<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> Slice strawberries to top shortbread or ice cream, or simply serve them whole.<\/li>\n
Tip:<\/em> For an easy dessert full of vitamin C, drizzle sliced berries with balsamic vinegar or a splash of Champagne.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Corn<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick:<\/em> Ears with husks that feel taut against full, well-defined kernels. Take a peek at the kernels: They should be plump (not flat).<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> Keep corn in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 2 days.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> Corn can be steamed, boiled or grilled, or simply cut from the cob and tossed into salads raw.<\/li>\n
Tip:<\/em> Snap the corncobs in half before slicing off the kernels (full of potassium) so you can prop the cut side of the cob solidly on the cutting board.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNext Page: Summer squash<\/a> [ pagebreak ]Summer Squash<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick: <\/em>Small but heavy squash with glossy skin.<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> In a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n
Tip:<\/em> Grate too-large zucchini into soups, sauces, or muffin batter to get a quick a boost of vitamins A and C.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Tomatoes<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick:<\/em> Plump tomatoes with fully developed color that yield to the touch without being mushy.<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> Ripen at room temperature, stem-side down. Never refrigerate.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> Choose slicing tomatoes like Brandywine or Mortgage Lifters for salads and sandwiches, and the firmer-fleshed Amish Paste or San Marzano for sauces.<\/li>\n
Tip: <\/em>Cut overripe tomatoes in half and smear the lycopene-rich flesh on toasted bread drizzled with olive oil for a quick bruschetta.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Green Beans<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick:<\/em> Smaller beans, which are typically most tender, and look for ones that are firm, with a slight sheen and no wrinkles.<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> Rinse, air dry, and store in a ventilated plastic bag in the fridge for up to 5 days.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n
Tip:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cucumbers<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Pick:<\/em> Firm, rounded cukes, with bright to dark green skin. Avoid any with soft spots or shriveled ends.<\/li>\n
Store:<\/em> Keep them in loose plastic bags in the fridge for up to 3 days. Wrap leftovers in plastic or a sealed container.<\/li>\n
Use:<\/em> 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.<\/li>\n
Tip:<\/em> Buy unwaxed cucumbers, so you can eat the skin (full of fiber and vitamins A and C) without eating the waxy coating.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[21],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}