Ingredients
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Select based on the tips provided in the instructions.
Equipment
Instructions
- Know what’s in season and when. In-season produce tastes better, looks better and is cheaper. Buying local fruit and veg is also the way to go if you want the freshest produce. If you’re unsure what is in season, ask your green grocer or use a seasonal chart.
- Go for colour. The tastiest fruit and vegetables will have the deepest and most vibrant colours. The skin should be smooth and wrinkle-free, with no blemishes or bruises. Dull colours or patches of white or green in odd places may indicate the item is not ripe or did not receive enough sun.
- Check the weight. Always buy produce that is heavy relative to its size. Lightweight pieces tend not be as juicy as those that are heavier.
- Opt for firm rather than hard. As a general rule, fruit should be bought a little softer than vegetables. If pieces are too soft they won’t last long. Produce that is too hard may take too long to ripen. Give each piece a gentle squeeze.
- Inhale the aroma. Bring each piece of produce up to your nose and take a deep breath. Choose items that have a light and sweet fragrance. Unripe produce will hardly smell at all, while overly sweet or sour smells indicate over-ripeness.
- Choose stiff stems and robust leaves. Leafy vegetables or fruits with stems should look healthy and be bright in colour. The fresher the produce the more upright its leaves will appear. Avoid produce that looks limp, wilted or has turned brown.
Notes
Tip
Summer Produce: Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Grapes, Honeydew melon, Rockmelon, Watermelon, Nectarines, Oranges (Valencia), Peaches, Plums, Raspberries, Strawberries, Asparagus, Beans, Beetroot, Cabbage, Capsicums, Carrots, Celery, Chillies, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Leeks, Lettuces, Pumpkins, Rhubarb, Snow peas, Spinach, Spring onion, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Turnips, Zucchini.
Tip
Autumn Produce: Apples, Figs, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Lemons, Watermelon, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Persimmons, Plums, Quinces, Asparagus, Beans, Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuces, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Snow Peas, Spring onion, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Turnips, Zucchini.
Tip
Winter Produce: Grapefruit, Kiwifruit, Lemons, Mandarins, Oranges (Navel), Brussels sprouts, Carrots, Fennel, Potatoes, Silverbeet, Spinach.
Tip
Spring Produce: Grapefruit, Lemons, Oranges (Navel), Artichokes, Asparagus, Beetroot, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Fennel, Leeks, Peas, Rhubarb, Silverbeet, Spinach.
Tip
All Year Produce: Bananas, Beanshoots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Mushrooms.
