All fruits and vegetables have different needs when it comes to storage. Some, like asparagus and broccoli, store best in the produce drawer of your fridge. Others, like tomatoes and onions, taste better if they stay out on your counter or in the pantry.

Most of the time, it’s best to wash produce right before you are ready to eat it. That’s because moisture can cause fruits and vegetables to mold or rot faster.

• Washing produce is easy. Simply wash with plain water.

• Give harder vegetables, like potatoes and carrots, a good scrub under running water. Use a vegetable brush or cloth to scrub these vegetables.

• Leafy lettuces and other crinkly vegetables have plenty of space for dirt to get trapped. It’s usually best to place these foods into a bowl of water and gently swish around.

• Softer fruits and vegetables that rot or mold easily, like berries and mushrooms, just need a rinse under running water for 30 seconds or so: don’t soak!

• You may want to wash and cut some produce to use later, like for a meal or for snacks.

• Make sure to dry it well and store it in an airtight container. You can also try wrapping the produce in a paper towel to soak up more moisture. Eat washed and cut produce within a few days.