Peas & Lima Beans
Select pods that are well-filled but not bulging. Avoid pods that are dried, yellowed, flabby or spotted.
Asparagus
Stalks should be tender and firm with the tips close and compact. Choose the stalks with very little white-these are more tender. Use asparagus soon after buying because it toughens quickly.
Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts & Cauliflower
Flower flusters on broccoli and cauliflower should be tight and close together. Brussel sprouts should be firm and compact. Avoid buying these vegetables if they have smudgy, dirty looking spots on them. This may indicate insects.
Cabbage & Head Lettuce
Choose heads of lettuce and cabbage that are heavy for size. Avoid cabbage with worm holes. Avoid lettuce with discoloration or softness because this can mean rot.
Cucumbers
Choose long, slender cucumbers for the best quality. Cucumbers may be dark or medium green but yellowed ones are undesirable and will have a dry taste. You want to avoid these.
Melons
In cantaloupes, thick close netting on the rind indicates the best quality. Cantaloupes are ripe when the stem scar is smooth and the space between the netting is yellow or greenish-yellow. They are best when fully ripe with a fruity odor.
Honeydews are ripe when rind has a creamy to yellowish color and a velvety texture. Immature honeydews are whitish-green and you want to avoid these.
Ripe watermelons have some yellow color on one side. If melons are white or pale green on one side, they are not ripe and will not have the best flavor.
Berries
Select plump, solid berries with good color. Avoid stained containers, which indicate wet or leaky berries. Berries such as blackberries and raspberries with clinging caps may be under-ripe. Strawberries without caps may be too ripe.
Oranges, Grapefruit & Lemons
Choose those that are heavy for size. Smoother, thinner skins usually indicate more juice. Most skin markings do not affect the quality of citrus fruits. Oranges with a slight greenish tinge may be just as ripe as fully colored ones. Light or greenish-yellow lemons are more tart than deep yellow ones. Avoid citrus fruits showing withered, sunken or soft areas.
It takes time and experience to get good at buying the freshest fruits and vegetables. Most of the time going with your first instincts and paying close attention to the appearance of the fruit or vegetable will help you decide if it is fresh enough for your purposes. With these guidelines you can trust that you are getting the freshest fruits and vegetables for your grocery dollars and the more often you put these simple rules of thumb into practice, the better you will get at them.
