Tag Archives: selecting produce

How to Select Grapes

Mmmm grapes. Nature’s candy. Grapes are one thing that I don’t have to beg my children to eat them out of hand. And, they are also wonderful in fruit salads, chicken salads, and of course, traditional leafy salads. But some grapes can be, well, less than desirable. Do you know how to select the best grapes? Do you want a quick, easy refresher? Read on to find out some great tips about selecting wonderful grapes at the store. First, you should decide what type of grapes you would like. Yes, some are seeded and other seedless, but there are three … Continue reading →

How to Choose Cherries

Summer is a great time to pick up some cherries. They are definitely in season right now. But how can you choose the best fruit? Read this article to find out the three different types of cherries and what to look for when buying them. At my house right now, barely a day goes by without some little mouth covered with the pink juice stains of ripe cherries. I think I’ve probably spent hours cutting them up and removing the pits. There are three types of cherries, and they aren’t all best used for the same purposes. The cherries that … Continue reading →

How to Select Mushrooms

Want to know how to select the best mushrooms? It is easy to do. Just follow some simple tips. Have you ever been to New Jersey? It is called the Garden State for good reason. I know, I know, you may not think of gardening when you think of New Jersey. I can relate. I grew up in New York City and got to experience the whole garbage barge debate. (There was a garbage barge that kept sailing across the river from NJ to NY and back again. Neither state wanted to claim it, and it led to some good … Continue reading →

Selecting The Right Avocado

Selecting an avocado has traditionally never been one of my strong points. I used to always wind up with one that, although it looked normal outside, when opened, might have been something you see the entire cast of CSU pouring over in any given week. A forensics study would have been appropriate. The problem with avocados is that they ripen suddenly and then spoil just as quickly. At least, that is my story, and I am sticking with it. My next strategy in selecting an avocado was to bring home one that was the most unripe-looking one I can find. … Continue reading →

Choosing The Best Tomatoes

Do you choose your tomatoes by the way they look? For example, a bright red tomato is always the best chose, right? Um not necessarily. It can turn out to be less than desirable: sour, mealy, hard or even rotten! There is a lot that can be done to a tomato to make it look like it is ripe and juicy when the reality is quite the opposite. Many of today’s tomatoes are engineered to hold up under rough handling by machines, as well as look the best in appearance. This can result in tough tomatoes that appear to be … Continue reading →