Apricots

To ripen apricots, place them in a sealed paper bag and keep them at room temperature.

Asparagus

Choose stalks that are straight with closed, compact tips and a bright green color. Look for asparagus with thicker spears because they will be more tender than the thinner ones. Store asparagus in the refrigerator in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Asparagus will quickly lose its tenderness and sweet flavor if left in the warm for too long. Asparagus stays the freshest by either wrapping the stem ends in a wet paper towel and put the asparagus in a plastic bag, or by standing the stalks upright with the cut stem ends in a plastic bag with a little water placed at the bottom. Do not seal the plastic bags, as the asparagus needs to "breathe", which prevents condensation from forming on the tips. Asparagus may be kept in the refrigerator like this for 4 or 5 days.

Bananas

Place your bananas in a paper bag to ripen if they are too green. To ripen the bananas even faster, try placing an apple or tomato in the bag along with the bananas. Put especially green bananas into a plastic bag, seal, and place the bag in a warm spot like the top of your refrigerator. This will cause the bananas to heat up, which speeds the ripening process. You can also put other green fruits like peaches and pears into a bag with a ripe banana and they will ripen faster as well. You can also freeze bananas! Just peel, and store in plastic bags up to 6 months. Thaw and drain frozen extra-ripe bananas and use in baked goods, or slice frozen into blender drinks. If you want to keep your bananas for a longer period, you can store them in your refrigerator. Because they are a tropical fruit, the refrigeration will cause the banana peel to darken, however the fruit inside will stay firm and delicious.

Broccoli

Don't make the mistake of discarding the broccoli stalk! Simply peel the outside skin from the stalk and cook as you would the rest of the broccoli.

Carrots

Most carrots are sold without the tops because they have been shown to draw moisture from the stalk. Yet many people buy carrots with the tops to ensure that the product is fresh. However, in order to store carrots longer, remove the tops.

Cauliflower

If boiling cauliflower, add a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice to the water to maintain the white color.

Green Beans

Do not wash beans and do not snaps off the ends before storing them in your refrigerator. Beans will keep several days in the refrigerator if stored in paper bags instead of plastic.

Kiwifruit

You can ripen kiwifruit by letting them sit at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. Kiwis are ripe then they are are slightly soft to the touch. You may also store ripe kiwifruit in the refrigerator for a few days. By storing them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, you will help them retain their moisture, and they will stay fresh for 2 to 3 weeks. You can also speed up the ripening process if you place kiwis in a paper bag with fruits that produce ethylene gas (apples, bananas, pears).

Lemons

Fresh lemon juice can remove odors from hands, pots and pans. Simply run with a cut lemon just before washing. Rub thinly sliced lemon peels through your garbage disposal to keep it smelling fresh.

Pears

Pears are easily bruised, so handle with care. Cool temperatures slow down the ripening process and warmer temperatures speed it up. You can speed up the ripening process by placing the pears in a brown paper bag, which only takes 2 to 5 days. You can store pears for 3 to 5 days by placing them in a refrigerator. Bartlett pears turn from green to yellow when ripe - but most pears don't change color when ripe. D'Anjou pears do not turn yellow when ripe.Instead, their color will turn from a dark green to a lighter shade of green. Check for ripeness by gently pressing your thumb against the stem end of the pear. They are ready to eat when they are slightly soft to the touch. Remember that pears ripen from the inside out, so the exterior may be a bit firm, though they are actually soft on the inside.

Peppers

Green bell peppers can be stored (unwashed) in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Red bell peppers should only be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days, due to the fact that they are more mature than their green brothers. Bell peppers can also be stored in the freezer. After washing, cut them into thin slices and place in a plastic freezer bag in the freezer. Frozen peppers are not like fresh peppers, but are wonderful for cooking. Red and yellow bell peppers are much sweeter than their green counterparts. Although they started out as green peppers, they were left on the plant to ripen for a much longer period of time. Because they require a longer period of growing time, they are a little more expensive than the green bell peppers. The taste is well worth the price!

Pineapple

Select a pineapple that has a fresh appearance with deep green leaves, and is slightly soft to the touch. With certain varieties, the color of the shell is not an indication of how ripe a pineapple is. The exception to this rule is the Del Monte® Golden Ripe Pineapple, which has a beautiful golden rind when ripe. This pineapple, the sweetest available and exclusive to the Del Monte® brand, is easily distinguished by the tag attached to every pineapple. Pulling leaves out is NOT a way to tell if a pineapple is ripe. Some varieties, but not all, have a fragrant aroma. Store whole pineapples at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator. You can store cut pineapples in your refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Potatoes

Choose potatoes that have shallow eyes that have not sprouted. Store potatoes in a cool (45-50°F) and dry place. Do not refrigerate potatoes, as this causes their starch to turn to sugar, and produces an unpleasant taste. Refrigeration converts the potato starches into sugars, which will cause the potato to darken when cooked. Potatoes will develop a green tint to the skin during prolonged exposure to light. The chlorophyll that is produced during this process can make the potato taste bitter. If this occurs, simply peel or pare the green area from the potato before using. Do not wash potatoes before storing. Place in a brown paper, perforated plastic or burlap bag. When properly stored, potatoes will keep for up to two month. You can prevent potatoes from sprouting by placing an apple in the bag with them. Do not store potatoes near onions, as the each produces a gas that speeds up the decay of the other.

Radishes

To avoid moisture and nutrient loss, remove the leaves from radishes before storing in your refrigerator.

Tomatoes

When selecting tomatoes, look for light to deep red color, based upon when you will want to use them. A lighter red tomato will continue to ripen if you place it in a warm environment, such as a kitchen or a sunny windowsill. Select tomatoes that are firm, yet have a slight give to their skin. DO NOT squeeze a tomato, just lightly press your thumb or forefinger against the skin. Room temperature tomatoes also give off that wonderful tomato aroma. NEVER store tomatoes in the refrigerator! Besides losing their nutritional value, they will also lose their flavor. Store tomatoes above 55°F.