Food Frenemies

Certain fruit and vegetables produce the gas ethylene during ripening which can reduce the shelf-life of other items in the fruit bowl or vegetable drawer. Fruits like apples, pears, apricots, bananas and kiwis all produce this gas as ripening begins, resulting in the changes in texture, softening and colour. Consequently, potatoes and sweet potatoes should be kept away from these kinds of ripening fruit and preferably somewhere cool and dark to prevent early sprouting.Other produce which is sensitive to ethylene include asparagus, broccoli, carrots, lettuce and green beans. Cherries and blueberries, however, do not produce much of the gas.Apples and watermelons are long-term enemies while bananas don’t play well with others and should be kept on their own.
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