Parents ask: I’d like to prepare several days worth of fruit and vegetables for my child’s lunch box. How can I keep pre-cut produce fresh and crisp?
The best way to keep vegetables or fruit fresh for a lunch box is to cut and prepare them the same day and place them in a zipper-sealed snack bag or a small box with ice pack. Carrots and celery can be wrapped in a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out.
If you would like to cut fruit or vegetable a few days in advance, wrap the fruit or vegetable with a damp paper towel before placing in a zipper-sealed bag in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that cut fruits oxidize (turn brown) quicker than vegetables. Stored like this, fruit and vegetables are safe to eat up to two days after being cut.
Gael Cruchet
Executive Chef, Maitre Cuisinier de France, The Ritz Carlton, Doha
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