storage tips

Wondering about the best way to keep the so-called storage vegetables so they last as long as you’d like, instead of rotting in your refrigerator, shriveling up in your garage, or growing long white sprouts? Here are some tips that should keep your Alaskan veggies fresh, even if you only order a box once a month.

winter squash

The enemy of winter squash is humidity. You want to try and create a dry shell to protect the squash. This means that you don’t want to keep it too cool, like in a very cold garage, where humidity will become a problem. Maybe in a relatively cool and dry garage or basement, or just in your pantry is fine. You definitely don’t need to refrigerate them. Keep an eye on them for any mold spots, and cut any mold off if you see it—then cook and eat the squash as soon as you can. 

potatoes

Potatoes should be stored in the cool and dark, but not in the refrigerator.  If you have a cool garage, put them on the floor where it’s coolest, and make sure they are in a cardboard box where they won’t have any light on them. Don’t put them in a dark plastic bag, though, because this will keep too much moisture in, which will encourage rot. Don’t wash the potatoes until you’re ready to eat them.

cabbages

Cabbages are easy—they are already wrapped in their own wrapper of cabbage leaves, so you can just pop them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Buy good, solid, heavy heads that are tightly grown—they keep much better than the lighter, more loosely-wrapped ones. If you want, you can wrap them in plastic bags, first, but it’s not necessary. As the winter progresses, you’ll just have to peel a few layers of leaves off to get to the good leaves on the inside of the cabbage. Even if the outer leaves get dried out, or a little moldy, I just peel them off and eat the good cabbage inside.

carrots, turnips, beets, and parsnips

These vegetables really need to be stored in your refrigerator to keep them happy. First, though, fold them up firmly into a large paper bag, then put the paper bag into a thick plastic bag (not the cheap grocery bags, but a good quality plastic bag). This will keep the moisture in, but the paper bag will absorb any excess moisture so the carrots won’t mold.

onions

Like winter squashes, the enemy of onions is moisture. After they have been cured, they can be stored in your kitchen—either on the countertop (where they will eventually sprout because of the light), or in a dark cupboard or drawer in your pantry (that’s where I like to keep them).