Following.

I'm designing my new kitchen now too and had this version in mind:

QCCI Walnut Fruit and Vegetable Bins · More Info

But as of last week I don't think this is the best option for me. (My veggie storage needs wax and wane too much for dedicated base cabinet space and I have a pedestal fruit bowl I ADORE.) So now I'm considering hanging jute veggie baskets on a rail.

@anotherjendee, thanks for this image! Any idea if produce spoils quicker in a producer drawer because certain fruits and vegetables are in close proximity? For example, I know I've read tomatoes are best away from everything. I love this idea, I just don't want things to spoil quickly.

Anything that produces ethylene gas makes other produce ripen faster. Apples and bananas make the most--don't store them with anything else. Tomatoes also produce ethylene.

I just found this helpful website: https://www.reluctantgourmet.com/storing-onions-and-potatoes-together/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20it%20is%20true%20you,ethylene%20gas%20as%20they%20ripen.%E2%80%9D

Potatoes snd onions also should not be next to each other in this closed environment.

Most look better than they will function. Messy, smelly and space hoggers IMO.

I don’t think you want to store produce where it will be subject to the heat of water in the sink. I also think you want to allow potatoes and onions and scallions to have air flow freely around them so they stay fresher longer.

Depends on how long you hold onto them before use…potatoes and onions like a cool storage and I don’t think the drawers will give that short term.

No way I would dedicate expensive cabinets to produce. I have my onions and potatoes in my cool dark pantry in cheapo baskets that I bought on amazon.

Thanks all! Sounds like produce drawers are not the best idea in the end. So many items need to be stored apart from one another, that it seems items would indeed spoil quickly.

I'd still love to hear from others who use them to see what they think, but leaning toward baskets in the pantry as @vinmarks stated.

I like the baskets in a pantry option.

Some foods not to store in fridge = potatoes, garlic, onions, tomatoes, bananas,

Baskets or mesh wire suggested, so air can circulate, to prevent rot.

Potatoes & garlic shed, so put a liner under basket.

Having a basket to pull out to prep area is convenient.

Easier to clean & dump peel sheds.

Easier to see how much you have when making shopping list

Easier to load when bringing home produce.

When buying produce, take out of plastic bags immediately to prevent rot.

I currently have my potatoes, garlic, & onions in vintage pinic wood woven baskets with lids

Inside the pinic baskets, I line it with cut down grocery paper bags to divide different types. I take a paper grocery bag cut down to bottom leaving 3-6" of the bag to make a short bag. Then I change the bags to clean out occasionally. This helps keep things organized & clean.

The paper bags as liners works well, because paper is breathable & prevents rot. Also, better for enviroment. Bags also catch sheds, & protect the baskets from the occasional odd ball that "rot"/leaks. rarely this happens, but that's life.

I buy onion & potatoes in bags in bulk. I immediately open the store plastic or mesh plastic bags to air out & sort the produce. Any rot or bruise ones, I separate & do not put with others It just takes one to ruin a bunch. Those get used immediately or gets thrown into compost outside & sometimes grows into a plant which I re-plant for more potatoes later.

Do not wash produce until you are going to cook. They will rot much faster.

The way I organize them in baskets, is I pull the older ones forward to use 1st & new ones in back & keep rotating. Everyone in home, knows to use the ones in front 1st.

I cook a lot from scratch & grow my own in Spring as a hobby.

I have been using this system for years with success.

Here's a few extra tips to make food last longer:

Water condensation is 1 of the main culprits for rot.

As soon as get groceries, take out of plastic & roll salad bunches in towels to not touch, put in fridge, Salad in plastic containers, spread out on towel to air out a few mintues & take out any wilted. Put a paper towel on bottom, middle, & top then re-close. This helps keep water condensation from rotting longer. Put mushrooms in paper lunch bags. I put my carrots & celery in a ziplock bag with a paper towel & keep open for some air. Take tomatoes, bananas, oranges, & apples out of store plastic bags or mesh & put in pantry or counter on glass plates for others to grab, wash & enjoy. Before eating, grate lemon zest, & orange zest put in freezer ziplock to have zest for cooking. Freeze Ginger, zest when needed. If lemons or oranges getting old, make zest, squeeze into ice tray, put cubes in freezer bags to use for cooking or on a hot day flavored ice or orange juice.

Hope this info helps your produce last longer, prevents waste, & saves time :)

Wow @artistsharonva, thank you for all of those ideas! I am def going to try paper towels in salad mix containers!

I do my taters in a picnic basket with a grocery bag cut to fit too. The onions are in grocery bag in a 10 produce lug. They sit far from each other. Garlic tends to be in braids- I have an old towel rod rack I hang them from. I also have a fabric garlic bag that hangs on one of the rods for when I have random heads. I use FIFO for my produce just like I do with all other foods.

I don't like produce drawers in cabinets. Usually not enough air flow, encourages storing stuff that shouldn't be stored together, can be a bigger pain to clean, and can be inviting to pests. Even a little mess or one spoiling something can attract insects and furry invaders. However, a nice fridge drawer to dedicate for cold produce storage I would use.

@anotherjendee, do you have a picture of your pedestal fruit bowl?

Do any of you see a reason I couldn't put produce baskets in upper cabinetry? I will have some upper cabinetry near my island that won't be filled, and having some produce in baskets there would be great proximity for me.

I had no idea potatoes and onions shouldn’t bunk together. Why do so many groceries sell them in close proximity? What about squash with potatoes or onions?