5 days Ago By Ellen Jenne
The consumer watchdogs at Which? have taken a deep dive into the debate on whether packaging is beneficial for keeping veggies crisp in the fridge. In an TikTok video, Which? explored various vegetables and the role plastic packaging plays in maintaining their freshness. Packaging can be a game-changer for vegetable freshness, affecting aspects such as respiration rate, moisture retention, and defense against decay.
Orange Packaging highlighted that ideal packaging should let vegetables breathe, permitting the release of gases and moisture that occur during natural respiration. They pointed out that improper use of plastic wraps or films could cause unwanted condensation, which may lead to mold or spoilage, reports the Express . Which? revealed in their TikTok video: "Why do some vegetables go off so quickly? It all comes down to ripening, environmental factors, and packaging.
For example, a cucumber wrapped in plastic stays fresh for about 14 days compared to just five days unwrapped." They cautioned that certain veggies, like potatoes and onions, should never be stored in plastic packaging. Which? elaborated: "Root vegetables like potatoes and onions are two more foods that should be kept completely out of plastic as it traps moisture and leads to sprouting or mold.
" Additionally, they advised that leafy greens keep better in perforated bags or wrapped in damp paper towels. Mushrooms and tomatoes are prone to spoiling quicker if they're sealed in plastic, as this can lead to excess moisture and a build-up of ethylene gas. The clip has racked up over 33,600 views, sparking debate among viewers who challenge the advice from Which? experts, particularly regarding carrot storage.
@jaywolfy expressed their dissent: "I totally disagree. Carrots should be removed from plastic and dried with towel and then kept as potatoes. Otherwise they get moldy within a week.
" Jasper questioned further: "What about carrots? I once had a bag of carrots go moldy in just a few days but when left unwrapped from plastic they lasted longer. but that video at the beginning suggests otherwise." Peter chimed in with his own tip: "Why haven't you mentioned that paper bags work better for mushrooms? Many veg such as potatoes keep best in the dark.
I don't think these are the best tips..".
