Repeatedly throwing away your uneaten fruit just days after buying it?
Apparently, a simple splash of vinegar can help make berries last longer, as recommended by This Morning chef Shivi Ramoutar.
While the condiment is a much-loved taste on chips, it is also beneficial when it comes to a longer shelf life.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, the TV chef explained: “What you should do with things like berries, is you should wash [them] with a little bit of vinegar.
“It makes them last because what causes berries to go off so quickly is what’s on the outside of them.
“When you buy them, you just need to rinse them off with vinegar, you dry them, you pat them down.
“I know it’s a big process and it’s a big ask, because not everyone then wants to come back from the supermarket and do this to all their fruit.
“So, if you’re not getting through your fruit quickly, it’s a good way of doing it.”
A Tesco own brand 568ml malt vinegar bottle costs just 35p, so we can assume a splash would need no more than 10% of that – meaning it will cost you just 3p a go.
For those who also have mixed fruit in the same bowl, Shivi has some words of advice on how to store bananas.
She continued: “So with bananas as everyone knows, [they] release a gas that then ripens fruits very quickly, fruit and veg.
“Unless you want to ripen fruit and veg that’s unripened, I’d keep your bananas separately.”
Washing fruit with vinegar is also a common practice aimed at removing bacteria, pesticides, and other contaminants from the surface of the fruit.
A recommended solution is mixing vinegar and water in a large bowl, with the general ratio being one part vinegar to three parts water.
While the method is not a guarantee that all bacteria and pesticides will be removed, it can significantly reduce the amount present on your produce.
For the best health practices, always ensure to consume fruits and vegetables that are as clean as possible.
Shivi Ramoutar, TV Chef and Cookbook author. Follow her at @ShiviRamoutar.
