Keeping Veggies Fresh

[AuroraB4Dawn]

I have a hard time keeping my greens for my BD fresh for more than a week. And have an even harder time keeping butternut squash from turning to a slimy mush. However, I learned today that drizzling lemon juice on veggies cancels out the oxidation effect of rotting greens. But, I want to know is lemon juice safe to injest for a beardie? I also heard of a crystslline preservative called FruitFresh. You just sprinkle it on like salt to keep the color of your greens. Has anyone heard of it to know if its safe or toxic?

 

[scm133]

I found that they will last a little bit longer, if you keep a dry paper towel in the bag with the greens. IMO, I would not use lemon juice or Fruit Fresh on the greens.

 

[Chirple]

I rip my greens up and put them in a sealed tupperware.

Do you live somewhere that greens are expensive ? Here they are only $1.50 a big bunch. I would rather pay that every week than for a "stay fresh" chemical that may or may not be working and perhaps only masking nutritional decay.

 

[Dooter]

I second the paper towel idea.

I put a dry paper towel in the bottom of a tupperware container, add the greens, then keep another dry paper towel on top of them.

Keep the whole thing sealed and in the fridge.

 

[Paradon]

That's what i do, too, and have been doing this for quite sometime. Back then I got a lot of mouths to feed. Most of my animals eat a lot of greens and veggies; that's a lot of salad to make. :wink:

 

[ChrisMiller]

After feeding Iguanas TONS of greens for many years, I learned a lot.

1) Do not use a metal knife to cut your greens. Instead pull them apart by hand.

2) Put them away as dry as possible - towel dry before tearing if needed.

3) Use a salad keeper bowl which will have a strainer built into the bottom to keep moisture off of the greens, AND a vent in the side to allow air circulation. (this is a BIG ONE)

Follow those 3 steps and you should be able to keep greens for 2+ weeks without a problem. I always prefer to feed the freshest greens possible though.

 

[Mustashio]

Fresh keeping isn't usually my issue, but trying to keep the vegi's from drying out throughout the day is! Sheesh! Any suggestions on that? I usually mist the vegis 2x a day when I feed him crickets!

 

[AuroraB4Dawn]

Ahh alright. Veggies aren't terribly expensive just inconvenient to go out every week n throw out half of what you pay for. I only have one BD and he hates his greens to begin with. But I agree with that problem lol, I can never keep them moist in the cage, although they are lasting a little longer now that the heat lamps are higher than they used to be.

 

[ChrisMiller]

Here are two products that I use that will seriously help.

Plastic salad knife:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MQ3SOA/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=aemavm-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B002MQ3SOA&adid=0Y7W0SSBM7T78M7V3QND&

And the best fruit / vegetable keeper I have ever found:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QP2WJ8/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=aemavm-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B003QP2WJ8&adid=0RTGW9AZAH49CFWVSSPF&

Total investment is about $14 SHIPPED from amazon. I am an amazon prime member so it might be slightly higher for some but not by much. Same stuff can be bought at walmart. I just like Amazon.

 

[Dooter]

Here are two products that I use that will seriously help.

Plastic salad knife:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MQ3SOA/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=aemavm-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B002MQ3SOA&adid=0Y7W0SSBM7T78M7V3QND&

And the best fruit / vegetable keeper I have ever found:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QP2WJ8/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=aemavm-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B003QP2WJ8&adid=0RTGW9AZAH49CFWVSSPF&

Total investment is about $14 SHIPPED from amazon. I am an amazon prime member so it might be slightly higher for some but not by much. Same stuff can be bought at walmart. I just like Amazon.

Oooo, I think I'm going to buy that veggie keeper. Thanks for the links!