Using this compartment correctly can keep your produce fresher for longer.

It’s not just a storage drawer.

Here’s what to put in your crisper drawer and how to use its controls.

Produce in Refrigerator Crisper Drawer

Credit:Getty Images

What Is a Crisper Drawer?

However, some produce items fare best when left out of the fridge.

Most refrigerators actually have two side-by-side crisper drawers: one for fruits and one for vegetables.

The humidity is adjusted according to the food items being stored.

However, in fridges with only one drawer, the default setting is usually high humidity.

What Foods Go in the Crisper Drawer?

The crisper drawer should be reserved forfresh produce.

These fruits produce ethylene gas which leads to rotting if it doesnt have the chance to escape.

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, and green beans also do well in ahigh humidity crisper drawer.

Some fruits also prefer a high humidity environment, such as strawberries, watermelons, and unripe bananas.

What Are Crisper Drawer configs?

Most drawers contain humidity vents that can be adjusted based on how humid you want the drawer to be.

This way, you could avoid making the mistake of placing thewrong items in the drawers.

This keeps moisture from evaporating.

Adjusting the other drawer to lower its humidity opens a window in the drawer.

Second to that ishow you stock the drawersthemselves.

A crisper drawer jam-packed with produce can result in blocked vents and a general lack of airflow.

The drawers also shouldn’t be almost empty.

Heavy produce like cauliflower and melons should go on the bottom, with fragile items on top.

If you dont have enough produce to fill a drawer, use one tokeep meat and poultry cold.

Just double-check to clean it before using it for produce again.

Items that emit ethylene gas should be stored in another part of the refrigerator.