Produce Storage 101
What is Ethylene Gas
Ethylene gas is commonly found in most fruits and some vegetables, it is a natural plant hormone that controls their growth and ripening. Ethylene is a hydrocarbon gas and is safe around humans and animals at low levels. It is flammable, odorless, and tasteless
Effects of Ethylene on Fruits and Vegetables
The common effects of ethylene gas in fruits are making their texture softer, changes their color, and making them sweet. While ethylene gas is a good substance for speeding up the process of ripening in fruits. They can also be a bad substance over-time and will result in the decay and damaging of produce. Some effects include apples and pears lose their crunch, green leafy vegetable wilts quickly, and dark spotting in green leafy vegetables, cauliflower, and broccoli. Fruits produce more ethylene gas than vegetables, but some fruits and vegetables are also highly sensitive to ethylene gas.
Things you need to know about Ethylene Gas
- Some fruits and vegetables such as green leafy vegetables are sensitive to ethylene gas, so you need to keep them away from high producing ethylene produce such as apples and pears because they will decay and wilt quickly. This is why leafy greens and other ethylene sensitive produce should be stored in sealed containers so they don’t get affected by ethylene gas from their environment, and not in our famous reusable mesh bags which has a breathable mesh.
- To maintain the longevity of your produce, high ethylene producing fruits should be kept away from other fruits and vegetables. Ideally, you should store your fruits and vegetables separately because fruits releases more ethylene gas than veggies. Keep green leafy vegetables away from fruits and preferably in a sealed container.
- Keep away ripe fruits and vegetables from ethylene-producing foods so they can last longer.
- Store onions and potatoes separately in a dry, cool, and open place. They don’t produce high levels of ethylene gas but potatoes are sensitive to ethylene. Exposure to high levels of ethylene gas can lead to sprouting in potatoes.
- Storing fruits and vegetables in a fridge or at lower temperatures can slow down the ripening effect of ethylene gas.
- Discard older, rotten food from your storage so your other fruits and vegetables can last longer and won’t get exposed to high levels of ethylene gas coming from overripe produce.
- Citrus fruits have a longer shelf life even after they are picked, but exposure to high levels of ethylene gas can make the citrus rinds break down.
Quick Chart of Ethylene Producing and Sensitive Produce
| Ethylene Producing Fruits & Vegetables | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fruits & Vegetables | Ethylene Emission | Ethylene Sensitive |
| Apples | High | Yes |
| Apricots | High | Yes |
| Avocados, ripe | High | Yes |
| Avocados, unripe | Low | Yes, Very |
| Bananas, green | Low | Yes |
| Bananas, ripe | Medium | No |
| Blackberries | Very Low | No |
| Blueberries | Very Low | No |
| Cantaloupe | Medium | Yes |
| Cherries | Very Low | No |
| Cucumbers | Very Low | Yes |
| Endive | No | No |
| Figs | Low | No |
| Grapefruit | Very Low | No |
| Grapes | Very Low | Yes |
| Guavas | Medium | Yes |
| Kiwi, ripe | High | Yes |
| Kiwi, unripe | Low | Yes, Very |
| Lemons | Very Low | No |
| Limes | Very Low | No |
| Lychees | Very Low | No |
| Mangoes | Medium | Yes |
| Melons, Honey Dew | Medium | Yes |
| Nectarines | High | No |
| Okra | Very Low | Yes |
| Oranges | Very Low | No |
| Papayas | Medium | Yes |
| Peaches | High | Yes |
| Pears | High | Yes |
| Pineapples | Very Low | No |
| Plums | High | Yes |
| Prunes | High | Yes |
| Quinces | High | Yes |
| Raspberries | Very Low | No |
| Strawberries | Very Low | No |
| Tangerines | Very Low | No |
| Tomatoes, green | Low | Yes |
| Tomatoes, ripe | Medium | No |
| Ethylene Sensitive Fruits & Vegetables | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fruits & Vegetables | Ethylene Emission |
Ethylene Sensitive |
| Asparagus | No | Yes |
| Avocados, ripe | High | Yes |
| Avocados, unripe | Low | Yes, Very |
| Bananas, green | Low | Yes |
| Basil | No | Yes |
| Beets | No | Yes |
| Bok Choy | No | Yes |
| Broccoli | No | Yes |
| Brussels Sprouts | No | Yes |
| Cabbage | No | Yes |
| Cantaloupe | Medium | Yes |
| Carrots | No | Yes |
| Cauliflower | No | Yes |
| Celery | No | Yes |
| Cucumbers | Very Low | Yes |
| Eggplant | No | Yes |
| Grapes | Very Low | Yes |
| Green Beans | No | Yes |
| Green Peas | No | Yes |
| Guavas | Medium | Yes |
| Herbs | No | Yes |
| Kiwi, ripe | High | Yes |
| Kiwi,unripe | Low | Yes, Very |
| Leeks | No | Yes |
| Lettuce | No | Yes |
| Mangoes | Medium | Yes |
| Honey Dew | Medium | Yes |
| Mushrooms | No | Yes |
| Okra | Very Low | Yes |
| Papayas | Medium | Yes |
| Parsnips | No | Yes |
| Peaches | High | Yes |
| Pears | High | Yes |
| Peppers,hot | No | Yes |
| Persimmons | No | Yes, Very |
| Plums | High | Yes |
| Prunes | High | Yes |
| Potatoes | No | Yes |
| Pumpkins | No | Yes |
| Quinces | High | Yes |
| Radishes | No | Yes |
| Rutabagas | No | Yes |
| Salad Mixes | No | Yes |
| Sprouts | No | Yes |
| Squashes, summer | No | Yes |
| Squashes, winter | No | Yes |
| Sweet Potatoes | No | Yes |
| Tomatoes, green | Low | Yes |
| Turnips | No | Yes |
| Watermelon | No | Yes, Very |
| NO Ethylene Emission, Not Sensitive | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fruits & Vegetables | Ethylene Emission |
Ethylene Sensitive |
| Artichoke, Sweet | No | No |
| Cherries sweet | No | No |
| Chicory | No | No |
| Coconuts | No | No |
| Corn | No | No |
| Cranberries | No | No |
| Garlic | No | No |
| Ginger | No | No |
| Kohlrabi | No | No |
| Onions | No | No |
| Peppers sweet | No | No |
| Pomegranates | No | No |
| Rhubarb | No | No |
Sources:
https://www.mykitchengarden.info/2016/10/fruits-vegetables-producing-ethylene-or-sensitive.html
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/fegen/ethylene-gas-information.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene