How to stop lettuce wilting and keep peppers fresh

Fed up of your lettuce wilting so soon after buying it? One woman has a neat trick to make it last longer.

TikTok user Chantel Mila has shared a handy video on how to prolong the life of your favourite fruit and veg using several simple methods. “Wrap lettuce in a paper towel to absorb excess moisture and keep it crispy,” she told her 1.5million followers.

That’s not all for salad lovers, as she advised: “To keep avocados ripe, store them in a fruit bowl, but to prevent ripening submerge them in water to keep them fresh for months.”

She also had a tip for strawberries, explaining: “Soak strawberries in equal parts vinegar and water to rid mould, rinse, dry and store in an airtight jar.”

Chantal, who describes her account as “the home of styling, organising and cleaning” also recommended making sure bell peppers are dry, before storing them in an airtight bag in the fridge.

And when it comes to herbs, Chantal advised: “Chop off the ends and keep them in a bouquet of water.” She’s clearly doing something right – her helpful clips have amassed a staggering 24million likes during her time on the social media platform.

“I definitely need more of these tips, I can’t stand throwing food out, so being able to keep it fresher for longer would be fantastic,” one of her grateful followers responded.

“Such great tips,” agreed another. “We love our fridge keepers to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. I also love it for helping me prep for the week ahead.”

One TikTok user expressed concerns about their strawberries being left with an acidic taste, meanwhile. They asked: “I’m pretty sure that’s a great way to store the strawberries, but I’m still stuck at the vinegar part, won’t that [become] infused in them and make them taste bad?”

Another person was on hand to offer reassurance, however, penning: “You can re-rinse them before eating. Vinegar really is an amazing tool.”