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Food storage tips – fresh food
Ethylene Gas
Ethylene is an odorless, colorless, gas produced naturally by fruit and vegetables. This gas plays
an important role in accelerating the ripening process. Some fruit and vegetables produce large
amounts of ethylene, while others are very sensitive to the gas. You may have noticed that when
you place an apple into the fruit bowl with bananas, the bananas will ripen more quickly. This is
due to the ethylene gas given off by the apple.
By separating those items that produce high levels of ethylene from those that are most
sensitive, you can prevent food from spoiling too quickly. As a general rule, separating fruit and
vegetables will help reduce the effects of ethylene.
Examples:
Food sensitive to ethylene Foods that produce high levels of ethylene
Avocados (unripe) Apples
Brussel sprouts Apricots
Broccoli Avocados (ripe)
Cabbage Cantaloupe
Carrots Cherimoya (custard apple)
Cucumber Passionfruit
Eggplant Peaches
Kiwifruit Pears
Lettuce Tomatoes (ripe)
Persimmons
Quince
Spinach
Tomatoes (unripe)
Watermelon