Why you need to throw out your fruit bowl

It may look great on your kitchen bench but a fruit bowl is far from the best option for keeping produce fresh. Photo / Getty Images

We are all guilty of letting things go off before we have time to eat them. And while fresh produce does go bad notoriously quickly, there are a few simple hacks that can make your groceries last a few crucial days longer to give you time to polish it all off.

The Good Housekeeping Institute has revealed the easy and cost-free ways to make your fruit and veg keep - and you'll need to throw out your fruit bowl.

Keep everything separate

The GHI says that you should avoid storing fruit and vegetables together as "many fruit, such as bananas, avocados and peaches, produce ethylene gas, which acts like a ripening hormone and can speed up the ripening process of other produce."

Instead of chucking everything into a fruit bowl or vegetable drawer divide them up between separate fridge/ cupboard shelves.

Make a vegetable vase

When it comes to prolonging the shelf life of herbs and asparagus the GHI suggests making a "vegetable vase".

Experts advise: "Wrap damp paper towels around the bases of your asparagus or herbs, or try storing them upright in a glass with about an inch of water. This will keep them hydrated and slow down wilting."

Freeze everything

We are all aware that freezing are food can extend its use-by date but it isn't just pizzas that belong in the freezer.

GHI suggests chopping an onion on purpose and then freezing the pieces in an empty water bottle. Simply shake out when needed.

In other advice experts suggest chopping 'any leftover herbs and store in an ice cube tray, fill with water and place them in the freezer' and simply defrosting when needed.

Other food saving hacks

• Stick onions in your stockings

Onions will keep for months if they are stored in a way that lets air circulate, as this stops rot from forming in the dry skins.

A cheap method is to use a clean pair of lightweight, natural-coloured tights (thick, black tights will cut out daylight and may cause your onions to sprout).

Just cut the legs off and drop onions into the legs one at a time, tying a knot between each onion as you go.

Once the leg is full, hang it up in a cool, light and dry spot and snip off an onion from the bottom of the chain as and when you need it.

The circulation of air, light and moisture will keep your onions in perfect condition for up to six months.

• Wrap celery in foil to keep it crisp

A tip from the Good Housekeeping experts: if you only eat celery a few stalks at a time, keep the rest in the crisper drawer of your fridge, wrapped tightly (but not sealed completely) in foil.

The humidity in the drawer and the tight foil will keep the celery moist and crisp while allowing the ripening gas ethylene to escape. This can keep the celery crisp for up to two weeks.

• Mix apples and potatoes

Store an apple or two in a ventilated bag with your potatoes and keep them in a cool, dry place.

This will keep them from sprouting, due to gases emitted from the apple.