How To Choose and Use Vegetables - Freshness Does Count

Demand freshness! Check the characteristic signs of freshness such as bright, lively color and crispness. Vegetables are usually at their best quality and price at the peak of their season. Fresh vegetables are key ingredients in the kitchen. With the right preparation and some of your homemade creativity, they make everyday meals just as magical as special occasions. Don't buy because of low price alone. It doesn't pay to buy more vegetables than you can properly store in your refrigerator or use without waste. How do you know whether your cabbage is ready to cook or your peppers are a little too ripe? Use the following handy Buying Guide for Vegetables to find and buy the freshest vegetables available, plus check out all the recipes:

Artichoke Select globes that are deep green, with a tight leaf formation, and those that feel heavy for their size. A good test of freshness is to press the leaves against each other which should produce a squeaking sound. Browning of the tips can indicate age, but can also indicate frost damage. Fall and winter artichokes may be darker or bronze-tipped or have a whitish, blistered appearance due to exposure to light frost. This is called "winter-kissed." Look for tender green on the inside of petals. Many consider these frosted artichokes to be the most tender with intense flavor. Avoid artichokes which are wilting, drying or have mold. Check out my informational web pages on Artichokes and lots of Artichoke Recipes.

Asparagus Asparagus is commonly sold in bundles of about a pound, standing upright in a try of water. Select bright green asparagus with closed, compact, firm tips. A rich green color should cover most of the spear. Stalks should be almost as far down as the green extends. Try to buy stalks that are equally thick so they cook evenly. If the tips are slightly wilted, freshen them up by soaking them in cold water. Avoid tips that are open and spread out, moldy or decayed tips, or ribbed spears (spears with up-and-down ridges or that are not approximately round). Those are all signs of aging, and indicate tough asparagus and poor flavor. Storing fresh asparagus - To make sure they keep their freshness, stand asparagus bundles in about 1-inch of water in a jar or shallow tray and keep them in the refrigerator. Cook the asparagus spears with 2 or 3 days of purchast. Check out my informational web pages on Asparagus and lots of Asparagus Recipes.

Beets Many beets are sold in bunches with the tops still attached, while others are sold with the tops removed. Look for beets that are firm, round, with a slender tap root (the large main root), a rich, deep red color, and smooth over most of the surface. If beets are bunched, you can judge their freshness fairly accurately by the condition of the tops. Badly wilted or decayed tops indicate a lack of freshness, but the roots may be satisfactory if they are firm. Avoid elongated beets with round, scaly areas around the top surface -- these will be tough, fibrous, and strong-flavored. Also avoid wilted, flabby beets -- they have been exposed to the air too long. As the beet greens are very nutritious, cook them as you would fresh spinach leaves.

Broccoli When purchasing broccoli, select ones where the stalks are tight and firm.  Look at the stalk and make sure it's not tough. The buds should be tightly closed and the leaves are crisp and very green. The little 'trees' or florets should be dark green. Also note that if the broccoli tends to have a very strong smell or if the leaves have a slightly yellow color, it can often suggest that it is old. Try and avoid broccoli where the buds are yellow in color. Check out my informational web page on Broccoli. Also check out my article on Broccoli Raab/Rapini.

Brussels Sprouts Brussels sprouts develop as enlarged buds on a tall stem, one sprout appearing where each main leaf is attached. The "sprouts" are cut off and, in most cases, are packed in small consumer containers, although some are packed loose, in bulk. Although they are often available about 10 months of the year, peak supplies appear from October through December. Look for a fresh, bright-green color, tight fitting outer leaves, firm body, and freedom from blemishes. Avoid elongated beets with round, scaly areas around the top surface -- these will be tough, fibrous, and strong-flavored. Also avoid wilted, flabby beets -- they have been exposed to the air too long.

Cabbage Cabbage leaves should be firm, When selecting, choose only the heads that are compact and firm. They should have fresh, crispy leaves that do not contain any markings or browning, which may be an indication of worm damage. The head should only contain a few loose outer leaves. The coloring of the leaves should reflect the variety you are purchasing. In general, the darker green the leaves the more flavor they have. The stem should be trimmed and look fresh, not dry and cracked. Avoid purchasing precut or shredded cabbage. Once the cabbage is cut it begins to lose its vitamin C content, even if it is tightly packaged or well wrapped. Check out my informational web page on Cabbage.

Carrots When purchasing carrots, look for firm, plump carrots without rootlets. They should be small, bright orange and smooth, without cracks. Buy carrots in bunches, with their leafy green tops still attached. Carrots lose moisture through their leafy green tops, so if you purchase them this way, remove the tops before wrapping carrots in plastic and storing. Instead of throwing away the tops, which are full of nutrition, try adding them to soups or chopping them and adding to your salads. Storing fresh carrots: Carrots keep will for weeks in the refrigerator, although you will sacrifice sweetness and flavor if stored too long.

Cauliflower When purchasing cauliflower, look for a clean, creamy white, compact curd in which the bud clusters are not separated. Spotted or dull-colored cauliflower should be avoided, as well as those in which small flowers appear. Heads that are surrounded by many thick green leaves are better protected and will be fresher. As its size is not related to its quality, choose one that best suits your needs.

Celery Select celery that is light green in color, firm, compact, and well-shaped. The stalk should have a solid, rigid feel and leaflets should be fresh or only slightly wilted. Also look for a glossy surface, stalks of light green or medium green, and mostly green leaflets. Avoid purchasing celery with bruises or discolored areas on the stalks.

Celery Root/Celeriac Celery roots can range in size from that of an apple to the size of a small cantaloupe. It is available in winter.  Select firm, hard roots that are about baseball size and feel heavy. Often the bigger ones have voids or fibrous cores. If the stems and leaves are attached, they should be fresh and green. Trim side roots and leaves and store in refrigeration at 32oF. with high humidity (well for a long time in a cool, dark place. This vegetable does not stand up to freezing. Check out my informational web page on Celeriac (Celery Root).

Corn Fully ripe sweet corn has bright green, moist husks. The silk should be stiff, dark and moist. You should be able to feel individual kernels by pressing gently against the husk. Fresh corn, if possible, should be cooked and served the day it is picked or purchased. As soon as corn is picked, its sugar begins is gradual conversion to starch, which reduces the corn's natural sweetness. Corn will lose 25% or more of its sugar within 25 hours after harvesting it. If for some reason corn is not being used immediately or has been purchased from the supermarket, add sugar to replace that which has been lost. Add one teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.  Check out my informational web pages on Corn and lots of Corn Recipes.  Also check out Freezing Corn on the Cob.

Daikon Radish As with any root crop, look for Chinese radishes that are free of growth cracks and bruises with firm and crisp roots. Chinese radishes keep well in refrigeration if they are placed in a sealed container or plastic bag to maintain high humidity. Check out my informational web page on Daikon Radish.

Eggplant Smaller, immature eggplants are best. Full-size puffy ones may have hard seeds and can be bitter. Choose a firm, smooth-skinned eggplant that is heavy for its size; avoid those with soft or brown spots. Gently push with your thumb or forefinger. If the flesh gives slightly but then bounces back, it is ripe. If the indentation remains, it is overripe and the insides will be mushy. If there is no give, the eggplant was picked too early. Also make sure an eggplant isn't dry inside, knock on it with your knuckles. If you hear a hollow sound, don't buy it. NOTE: Whether or not there is an appreciable difference, I don't know. Check out my informational web page on Eggplant.  Also check out Eggplant Equivalent, White Eggplant, Freezing Eggplant.

Garlic When selecting garlic, it should be big, plump and firm, tight silky skins with its paper-like covering intact, not spongy, soft, or shriveled. Why buy small ones that are a pain to peel? As with all ingredients for cooking, buy the best garlic you can afford. Fresh garlic is readily available year round. Garlic is available in forms other than fresh, such as powder, flakes, oil, and puree. Also remember that a single bulb of garlic usually contains between ten and twenty individual cloves of garlic. The individual cloves are covered with a fine pinkish/purple skin, and the head of cloves is then covered with white papery outer skin. Check out my informational web pages on Garlic and lots of Garlic Recipes.

Green or String Beans Green beans are available year round, with a peak season of May to October. Green beans are also called string beans and snap beans. Green beans were once called string beans. Today they are string less; just break off the end as you wash them. Leave whole or cut into desired lengths. Choose slender beans that are crisp, bright-colored, and free of blemishes. Check out my informational web pages on Green Beans and lots of Bean Recipes (dried and fresh). Also check out Green Beans, Cooking Green Beans,  Are Green Beans Healthy,  French-Cut Green Beans,  and Romano Beans/Italian String Beans

Kale Kale is overflowing with essential nutrients such as calcium, lutein, iron, and Vitamins A, C, and K. Kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times more lutein. Kale is rich in chlorophyll and provides much needed fiber so lacking in the daily diet of processed food eating Americans.  Check out my informational article on Kale - Healthy Kale

Mushrooms Fresh mushrooms have a firm texture. They are delicate, highly perishable, and must be handled with care; they are sensitive to hot temperatures and rough shipping. Many varieties of fresh mushrooms are seasonal. Watch out for mushrooms that are moldy or soft. You are looking for them to be clean and firm. Avoid overripe mushrooms (shown by wide-open caps and dark, discolored gills underneath) and those with pitted or seriously discolored caps. Check out my informational web page on Mushrooms - Nutritional Data on Mushrooms.

Onions When buying onions, choose those that are heavy for their size with dry, papery skins, and that show no signs of spotting or moistness.  Avoid onions that are soft or sprouting. Young onions are sweeter than old ones. They should have absolutely NO SMELL whatever. If they do, they are probably bruised somewhere under the skin and are on their way out. Check out my informational web pages on Onions and lots of Onion Recipes.

Peas Garden peas are generally available from spring through the beginning of winter. When purchasing garden peas, look for ones whose pods are firm, velvety, and smooth. Their color should be a medium green. Those whose green color is especially light or dark, or those that are yellow, whitish or are speckled with gray, should be avoided. Additionally, do not choose pods that are puffy, water soaked or have mildew residue. The pods should contain peas of sufficient number and size that there is not much empty room in the pod. You can tell this by gently shaking the pod and noticing whether there is a slight rattling sound. Peas taste best when cooked as soon as possible after picking or puchasing. Check out Snow Pea/Chinese Pea Pod/Sugar Pea.

Peppers - Bell Peppers & Chile Peppers The skin should be smooth, with no bruises or marks on the surface. Sweet green bell-shaped peppers are the most popular garden variety. Left to ripen, they turn red, purple, orange or yellow and gain various levels of sweetness depending on the variety. Chili peppers range in hotness from mild to fiery hot. Check out my informational web page on Chile Peppers.

Potatoes Potatoes should be smooth, well shaped, and unbruised. When selecting potatoes, choose new potatoes for boiling and salads. They have thinner skins and are firmer. With new potatoes, look for firm potatoes that are free from blemishes and sunburn (a green discoloration under the skin). Some amount of skinned surface is normal, but potatoes with large skinned and discolored areas are undesirable. For general-purpose and baking potatoes, look for reasonably smooth, firm potatoes free from blemishes, sunburn, and decay. Check out my informational web pages on Potatoes and lots of Potato Recipes. Also check out how to make Perfect Baked Potatoes and Perfect Mashed Potatoes.

Radicchio Radicchio has a distinct bittersweet flavor similar to endive.Radicchio is available year round. When selecting radicchio, look for firm white bases. The leaves should have no blemishes, holes or browining at the edge. Choose smaller heads than you usually do for head lettuce. Check out my informational web page on Radicchio.

Spinach Choose leaves that are crisp and have dark green with a nice fresh fragrance. Avoid those that are limp, damaged, or spotted. Check out my informational web pages on Spinach and lots of Spinach Recipes.

Squash (Summer) Summer squash includes those varieties which are harvested while still immature and when the entire squash is tender and edible. They include the yellow Crookneck, the large Straight neck, the greenish-white Patty Pan, and the slender green Zucchini. Some of these squash are available at all times of the year. Look for squash that are tender and well developed, firm, and fresh-appearing. You can identify a tender squash, because the skin is glossy instead of dull, and it is neither hard nor tough. Avoid stale or over mature squash, which will have a dull appearance and a hard, tough surface. Such squash usually have enlarged seeds and dry, stringy flesh. Also avoid squash with discolored or pitted areas.

Squash (Winter) Look for full maturity, indicated by a hard, tough rind. Also look for squash that is heavy for its size (meaning a thick wall and more edible flesh). Slight variations in skin color do not affect flavor. Avoid any squash with cuts, punctures, sunken spots, or moldy spots on the rind. These are indications of decay. A tender rind indicates immaturity, which is a sign of poor eating quality in winter squash varieties. Check out my informational web pages on Squash and lots of Squash Recipes.

Sweet Potato Sweet potatoes should be uniformly light-tan-colored. Look for firm sweet potatoes with smooth, bright, uniformly colored skins, free from signs of decay. Because they are more perishable than white potatoes, extra care should be used in selecting sweet potatoes. Avoid sweet potatoes with worm holes, cuts, grub injury, or any other defects which penetrate the skin; this causes waste and can readily lead to decay. Even if you cut away the decayed portion, the remainder of the potato flesh may have a bad taste. Check out my informational web page on Sweet Potato.

Tomatoes Tomatoes don't develop adequate flavor unless allowed to ripen on the vine. Seek out locally grown tomatoes whenever possible. They may not be as "pretty" as store bought, but beauty, of course, is only skin deep. Fragrance is a better indicator of a good tomato than color. Use your nose and smell the stem end. The stem should retain the garden aroma of the plant itself - if it doesn't, your tomato will lack flavor and, as far as I'm concerned, will be good only for decoration! Since fresh tomatoes are summer fare and off-season tomatoes are rarely flavorful, substitute canned Italian plum tomatoes in cooked dishes. Cook for ten minutes to reduce the liquid and enhance the taste. Check out my informational web pages on Tomatoes and lots of Tomato Recipes. Also check out How To Peel Fresh Tomatoes, Metallic Taste in Tomatoes, Oven Slow-Roasted Tomatoes, Dehydrated Tomatoes.

Tomatillos They can range in size from about an inch in diameter to the size of apricots. They are covered by a papery husk which may range from the pale green color of the fruit itself to a light grocery-bag brown. Choose small tomatillos. They are sweeter than the larger, golf-ball-size ones. The condition of the "husk" is a good indication of the freshness of the fruit. The husk should be light brown and fresh looking (not shriveled and dried). Unlike tomatoes, tomatillos should be firm and free of defects. The husks are inedible and should be removed before use. Check out my informational web pages on Tomatillos and lots of Tomatillo Recipes.

From  http://whatscookingamerica.net