HOW TO BUY VEGETABLES?
How to buy vegetables? Well, most probably you will claim that it is on of the easiest things to do. Today, buying vegetables is looked upon as just a chore to be got over as fast as possible. In these fast times, most people find it a waste of time to even go to the local market to buy fresh vegetables for their daily needs. They find it easier to send someone to the ubiquitous department store to buy vegetables in sealed packets for the entire week. What they fail to realize is that not only are these vegetable not fresh, but are also not so clean and are often spoilt.
Well, if it has been quite some time since you visited the local vegetable market, then it is time to revive your skills to buy fresh vegetables. Here are a few useful tips which will guide you in buying vegetables. Read on.
1. Choose seasonal vegetables
Always go for the vegetables in season, as you will find them to be the freshest, tastiest and most nutritious. They should be fresh with bright colors and unblemished firm skin. Don’t buy vegetables with brown patches, wilted or slimy leaves.
2. Roots and tubers:
Vegetables to buy under these types are carrots, potatoes, beetroot, celeriac and radishes. They should be firm, with thick flesh and wrinkle-free skin. They should not give when touched and have no discoloration or wilting
3. Bulbs:
When you buy onions, choose firm bulbs. They should be even-colored and have no signs of sprouting. Don’t buy damp or musty onions. The spring onions should have dark-green leaves and fresh-looking roots. Follow this tip to buy fresh vegetables.
4. Leafy greens and brassicas:
Swiss chard and spinach you buy should have crisp, fresh-looking leaves. Look for any signs of insect damage or wilting. Buy cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage having tight compact heads.
5. Fungi:
Mushrooms, which come under this category, should be firm and fresh-looking with no sign of damp smell. Check for the stalk end which should be moist.
6. Pods and seeds:
Always buy peas and beans with bright green pods. They should be firm and plump. The sweetcorn you buy should have tight green husks and plump, with tightly packed shiny kernels on the cob.
7. Stalks and shoots:
The celery, globe artichokes, fennel, asparagus and chicory should have firm heads with no brown patches on the outer layers.
8. Vegetable fruits:
Aubergines, tomatoes and peppers, also known as vegetable fruits should have firm, smooth, and shiny skins. Avoid buying those that are pulpy or wrinkled.
Although it is advised to buy vegetables fresh directly from the local market but at times when you are unable to visit the market and urgently require some veggies, then you have an option to buy vegetables online. You just need to dial a number and get your vegetables in few minutes, delivered at your place.
Your local supermarket may hype more than reality on the freshness of the vegetables available there. So be choosy from where buying vegetables. Remember that when you buy fresh vegetables, you are not only enhancing your enjoyment of a meal, but also getting a good supply of minerals and vitamins, that may not be found in any food supplements.