Best Methods for Storing Produce Long Term

Apples will be just fine on your counter for a week or so, but the ideal place to store them is in your crisper drawer. Monitor them and use up the ones with dents or bruises first, as these spoil faster and also contribute to the other good apples spoiling. After a month or two in the frig, the apples may start to go soft, but they can still be used for cooking and baking, even if you don’t want to eat them fresh.

Beets have kept in my refrigerator for several months. I have found that placing a paper towel inside the plastic bag absorbs extra moisture and prevents them from spoiling.

Carrots have kept in my refrigerator for several months. I have found that placing a paper towel inside the plastic bag absorbs extra moisture and prevents them from spoiling. If they sprout new stems, I simply snap them off and they are still good to use!

Cucumbers will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator if wrapped in a paper towel and placed inside a plastic bag to prevent excess moisture from spoiling them.

Eggs will easily keep for several weeks in your refrigerator.

Garlic can be stored in paper or net bags for up to several months. Keep in a dark, cool place and check periodically to use up the cloves that soften first. Check out this article for more information.

Honey will keep indefinitely, however, because it is raw, it will likely crystalize in a few months. You can simply place the bottle in warm water to return the honey to its liquid state. The ideal storage location is a dark, warm place, such as a cupboard. Here is a great article on storing honey if you want to learn more.

Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale, and chard will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator if wrapped in a paper towel and placed inside a plastic bag to prevent excess moisture from spoiling them.

Onions will be just fine on your counter for a week or so, but the ideal place to store them is in your refrigerator. Spoiling usually starts at the stem end, so monitor the stem end for softening and discoloration and use those onions up first. I am usually able to keep onions for several months in the frig.

Potatoes prefer a dark, cool, moist storage location. 40 degrees and 95% humidity is ideal, but this kind of environment can be hard to create. Length of storage will depend on what your storage location is like. I have found that potatoes keep in my basement for several months, eventually going soft but are still fine for using in soups.

Sweet potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark place, such as a basement. Use up the dented or scratched ones first, as they will spoil fastest.

Acorn and delicata squash are small squashes and thus will not last as long as the larger squashes. If stored in a cool, dark place such as a basement, they should safely keep for at least a month.

Buttercup, butternut, and spaghetti squash are larger squash and thus will keep longer than acorn and delicata. If stored in a cool, dark place such as a basement, they should safely keep for at least 2 months.

Sources:
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/storage-crops.html
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/winter-squash-eating-guide.html
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/post-harvest-handling-summer-fresh-market-vegetables.html