Zero-Waste Food Storage

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When we first moved here, the language barrier intimidated me into accepting food with whatever trappings were offered. But the growing rage I felt towards Paris prices soon accompanied a passable level of French and a significantly higher level of entitlement. If my weekly grocery bill was going to equal a monthly car payment (for a Honda, no less), I better not have any trash to take out afterward.

We opted to forgo the freezer in this apartment, and I'm hoping our next home will skip the refrigerator. Until then, everything is organized according to Cornell's guidelines for storing organic food. Fatty or sweet things, like crème anglaise, homemade coconut milk, butter, and crème fraîche belong on the top shelf (pictured). Wine and juice go on the rack, with leftovers below and eggs in the drawer. Finally, separate dairy and meats on the middle and lowest shelves, respectively- larger cuts, like côte de boeuf, can be wrapped safely in a flour sack towel with a wooden board underneath. I also make jam and condiments (mainly harissa and mayo) at home, all of which go in glass jars in the door. My friends say it's a true American refrigerator, on account of its size :) You can freeze in glass jars or stainless steel containers. Don't fill above the shoulder and allow room for expansion in flat edge jars. When I’m in Cleveland, I freeze homemade tortillas wrapped with cloth stored flat in a stainlsss steel container, rolled in cloth in a large Ball jar, or simply in a cloth drawstring bag or bento bag. You can do the same with cookies, muffins, breads, croissants etc. Kathryn from Going Zero Waste has a detailed guide on freezing plastic free and uses a pillowcase to preserve baked goods.

Zero Waste Food Storage (Plastic Free, Paperless)

Apples	Keep unwashed, loose in the refrigerator. Can store with potatoes		Kiwi	Keeps well at room temperature.
Apricots	Only put ripe apricots in fridge, in low-humidity drawer.		Leafy greens	Wash, dry, and store wrapped in a cloth towel.
Arugula	Wash, dry thoroughly between two towels, then store wrapped in a towel in a drawer.		Leeks	Keep in an open jar with a little water for stems.
Asparagus	Trim ends, then store upright in a glass with a little bit of water.		Melons	Room temperature until ripe, then refrigerator.
Avocado	Room temperature. Store loose with an apple to speed ripening.		Nectarines	Room temperature until ripe, then loose in refrigerator.
Banana	Keep at room temperature away from ethylene-sensitive produce.		Onions	Unstacked, in a cool, dry place away from the sun.
Basil	Trim stems, then keep upright in a glass jar with water at room temperature.		Parsnips	Loose in crisper.
Beets	Trim, wash and dry greens, then keep wrapped in a towel or glass container with moisture. Scrub roots and keep in high humidity drawer or damp towel.		Pears	Store with apples to ripen. Good in refrigerator or at room temperature.
Bell pepper	Wash, dry, store loose in crisper drawer.		Peppers	Store unwashed in crisper.
Berries	Soak in water with a splash of vinegar. Rinse, then dry flat between two towels.		Persimmon	Room temperature.
Broccoli	Leave uncovered in drawer. To prevent crumbs, drape a towel over unwashed florets first, leaving the stem exposed.		Pineapple	Keep whole pineapple out of the fridge. If you're not eating within three days, core, cut, and place in airtight glass jar.
Brussel sprouts	Store loose in a humid drawer.		Pomegranates	Bowl at room temperature.
Carrots	Scrub, store upright in a jar with water.		Potatoes	Store vitelotte in darkest part of the fridge. Otherwise, in a cool, dark, dry place away from onions, in wood, wire, metal or cloth.
Cauliflower	Same as broccoli.		Radish	See beets. Save the radish greens- they're delicious.
Celery	Rinse, keep in a humid drawer or damp towel. Store celery root the same way.		Romanesco	See broccoli, cauliflower.
Cherries	Store unwashed in the fridge in a netted bag, small wooden basket, or loosely closed glass jar.		Spinach	Store loose in the refrigerator or wrapped in a cloth towel.
Citrus	Best at room temperature. I stack them in a glass vase or fridge drawer.		Spring Onions	Loose in the crisper.
Cucumber	Do not wash. Store in crisper.		Squash	Room temperature or crisper, washed.
Eggplant	Store loose, unwashed, in crisper.		Strawberries	Soak in vinegar with water, dry, then keep in an open bowl in fridge.
Figs	Arrange in a single layer on a plate. Place in fridge.		Sweet potatoes	Never refrigerate.
Garlic	I buy fresh purple garlic, which needs to be kept in a cloth bag at room temperature or refrigerator drawer.		Tomato	Never refrigerate, they get mushy. Keep in a wooden basket or open glass jar. Store with apples to speed ripening.
Grapes	Store unwashed in refrigerator, loose or in a bowl.		Turnip	Same as radishes and beets.
Green beans	Store loose in a humid part of the refrigerator or in a damp towel.		Zucchini	Keep at room temperature. Wrap in cloth and place in fridge for longer storage.