In Reply to: Storing Fruit posted by J on April 12, 2012 at 8:26 pm:
Hi J,
I don't store much fruit in the refrigerator -- just bananas when I've got some very ripe ones that I am not yet ready to eat (they seem to keep another 3-5 days in the refrigerator); grapes and berries, too, when they are in season.
Otherwise, I keep them out and about. Persimmons I keep out on a flat surface. I did end up freezing a bunch of super-ripe persimmons at the end of the season because it was either that or they would rot. Apples and oranges I place in bowls and colanders on the dining table and kitchen counter -- I think they look decorative displayed that way. I tried keeping oranged in a big box once and ended up with some moldy ones at the bottom of the box -- yuck! Bananas, depending on the time of the year, I keep in the garage or in our spare bedroom. I like to take them out of the box/plastic lining and place them in brown grocery bags. I'll keep some in a warmer area and some in cooler areas in order to stagger the ripening a bit. If I want them to ripen REALLY fast I'll leave them in the trunk of my car on a warm day! Melons I leave out on the counter or dining table, or in the spare bedroom. Yes, I use the spare bedroom for a lot of fruit storage, and I've learned it's best to move the fruit out and air out the room for several days before guests come to stay as they are not usually fond of the smell -- "eeewww! it smells like bananas in here!").
As far as fruit flies, I haven't had a problem with them in the house. The place where they are a TERRIBLE problem is around my compost pile outside. UGH!!!
I don't have any special storage units or shelves.
Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram recently posted a youtube video re produce storage that you may enjoy:
