When Produce Goes Bad

As some of you know, I have a love/hate relationship with Cook's Illustrated.  But as it's more love than hate, I do subscribe to their main magazine.  And there's something in this month's issue that, IMO, is worth mentioning. 

I can remember where some of my produce is best stored:  Potatoes and tomatoes are best stored outside the refrigerator.  Many other fruits and vegetables do better in the refrigerator.  But which ones?  What's that crisper actually for, anyway?  And how about outliers like avocados?  The July/August 2008 issue out now (like most magazines, CI's months usually run ahead of the calendar; if it helps, this issue is #93) explains all in the centerfold.  There are also a page or so of special storage instructions for some vegetables, including notes about a couple things that don't work.  It might even be worth buying even just this issue to photocopy the left-hand page and cut out the column near the gutter entitled "WHERE TO STORE PRODUCE" for placement on your refrigerator.  I mean, how many vegetables do you have to save to make it worth your while?  Probably not a lot.  :-)

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Q.v. http://jhv.blogs.com/eatatjoes/2010/10/when-produce-goes-bad-ii-the-quickening.html

Comments

[Jess]

Any chance you could just scan it...?

[Joe Eater]

Jess: Unfortunately I can't even afford to make a copy of my own issue. :(

[Kira]

...ok, but can you write a post about some of their recommendations? :) I keep my bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, and onions outside of the refridgerator. I'm just curious as to whether or not that's good or bad.

[miles]

I googled cooks illustrated to see what one issue would cost, and I found that they have an online 14-day trial membership that you can sign up for. unfortunately, you do have to give them your credit card info, so if you don't cancel they can bill you for the full annual price, they won't charge you if you cancel before the 14 days is up. Normally I don't do stuff like that because I have a bad track record for remembering to cancel, but I took the risk because I figure at the worst I have a year of Cook's Illustrated. Once you sign up, the articles are available in PDF, so you can save as many as you want to your computer before you cancel. I already printed the storage guide. I would post it here, but I'm a bit of a stickler for copyright issues...