The Secrets To Keeping Your Fruit Fresh

Bananas. Wrap foil around banana stems and store at room temperature.

(Credit: Flickr/Fernando Stankuns)

Melons. Melon gets a bit rubbery when stored in the fridge, so it's best to keep it at room temperature. Cantaloupe, however, goes from ripe to over-ripe very quickly, and can be stored in the refrigerator.

(Credit: flickr/Prateek Rungta)

Berries. Don't rinse berries before storing them in the refrigerator, unless you add a little bit of vinegar to the fruit bath, which can add to your fruit's lifespan.

(Credit:flickr/Vancity Allie)

Tomatoes. And yes, they're fruit. Store tomatoes unwashed at room temperature. If you store them in the fridge, tomatoes tend to get a mealy texture.

(Credit: flickr/Rachel Andrew)

Apples. Store apples in a cool dark place; you can also refrigerate apples, which extends their lifespan to several months.

(Credit: Flickr/Billy Wilson)

Everything else. Pears, peaches, plums, mangoes, and most other fruit can ripen at room temperature. To speed up the ripening process, store these in a brown paper bag. Once they yield slightly to the touch, store them in the refrigerator.

(Flickr/Madilyn Peiper)