Whether you’re a road warrior or someone who spends a lot of time on the go, it can be hard to keep your food fresh. Luckily, there are a few foods that travel well without refrigeration.

These fruits and vegetables can easily survive hours in a car, airplane, or while traveling on the train or bus. Do you often find yourself eating out or packing your food with you on long trips, only to have it spoilt the moment you get there? If so, you’re not alone – many travelers tend to mishandle food storage, which can have disastrous consequences.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some foods that travel well without refrigeration, and explain why they’re such a great choice for those who don’t have a fridge at home.

How To Eat Fruit On The Go

When you’re on the go, it can be difficult to eat fruit without getting messy fingers or blundering into microbeads. Instead of carrying a tub of yogurt with chunks too big for small mouths—not an ideal choice under any circumstances—pack one full-size spoonful in your bag.

Bags aren’t only better for even consumption; they allow you to blend chopped foods rather than eating bread slices from the grocery store .

Fruits That Can Be Eaten Without Refrigeration

Frozen fruits and vegetables can be a great choice for traveling when raw produce isn’t necessarily childproof . Here are the three basic guidelines to keep in mind when choosing what goes where:

When it’s at room temperature , store your fruit dry, enclosed and with as much air between each piece as possible.  Dry dipping produces good flavor but leaves your food prone to microbes (remember how we mentioned freezing earlier?). On top of that, a few grainy pieces in a dip or sauce is just up the umami factor and delicious.

Now, dry dipping isn’t necessary when you start with frozen produce that’s been defrosted; bring it to room temperature before sprinkling on spices and other toppings so they don’t stick (like pungent doses of lemon juice).

Keep your vegetables as crisp as possible by storing them cold , wrapped tightly in plastic wrap inside a box. With some culinary wiles, you can get away with packing briefly frozen vegetables—you’ll just have to shock them by submerging the food in a bowl full of ice water for a short time (15 seconds or so).

Best Foods That Travel Well Without Refrigeration –  Follow The Guide

*These guidelines loosely depend on dietary restrictions. The exact list of what fruits to pack for the entire family is wide-ranging bottom up, and subject to change depending on how many allergies you or your child has or diets that may restrict certain foods (vegetarianism/lactose malabsorption—or any other sort).

Bananas: Chilliest fruit aside from cucumbers, bananas keep well in airtight containers if they’re protected from fruit flies and the threat of bruising they provide.

Raw bananas work best since you can’t vacuum-pack them to keep their skin intact, but frozen are fine too–as long as they’re completely thawed before eating (12 hours or so at room temperature).

Apricots: Not only a beautiful travel food that is packed with nutrients, apricots make a nice preserve if precooked in pint jars. Accompany thinly sliced, raw apricots with unsalted butter and salad greens if you want a light snack.

Avocados: The one fruit that never goes bad, the avocado is wonderful to have in the kitchen because of its versatility both as vegetable (sliver steak) and dip/spread—it’s also an addition to salads or whole-grain foods at most meals throughout the day.

Naturally good for your skin and heart , avocados don ‘t really fare well in the warmer months—the texture can get wonky if you pack them unrefrigerated , so packed properly they should stay reasonably fresh for at least 10 days, and a full week is possible.

Cherries: Which aren’t as popular during trip season as summer berries are due to availability but still keep extremely well thanks to cold storage–you’ll just have to bring more cherries whether eaten with dessert or plain .

Vegetables That Can Be Eaten Without Refrigeration

The most important (and common) question is what vegetables can really be eaten without refrigeration. While it’s possible to get by on tiny amounts of food that won’t spoil, you’ll probably have a better time if you at least bring the following:

Asparagus: This delicately sweet and tangy vegetable keeps for about two weeks after harvest in optimal conditions when not too cold or humid—you could even eat as much of your harvest at breakfast, after which you’ll have to preserve any leftovers by either canning or freezing.

Beans: All winter (and few summer) varieties of dried beans purchased from the store usually keep well all year in your freezer even if they were briefly exposed to air—you could get away with a bit more variety than sold pre-packaged, but close examination and regular use should be enough for proper storage without refrigeration provided they were packed correctly, really cold (but not frozen) and covered.

Raw beans can actually last several weeks unrefrigerated after harvesting if they’re kept in your fridge while cooking but given a chance to warm up before serving.

Cabbage: This is one of the few vegetables that either do or don’t need refrigeration—just prepare cabbage right on the spot where you harvested it as heat degrades vitamins A and C , which are in short supply when left out in the light and physical vibration of open air.

Carrots : In fact, since they’re so sweet, it’s best to keep carrots raw rather than refrigerate them or cook them with other vegetables—besides their sweetness and lack of a strong taste if not overcooked (as is typical with most root vegetables), this small veggie will contain enough Vitamin A.

Which regenerates after exposure to deforming heat, to keep a person healthy in the same manner as these vegetables that can rival carrots in nutrition and taste: sweet potatoes, broccoli, celery root.

How To Store Fresh Produce In A Cooler Bag Or Cooler Box?

Yes, you can and should store fresh produce right out of the garden in a cooler bag or box at home. Three Ways to Wash Fresh Produce Before Storing Some also say not to wash if it’s been pre-washed; washing only exposes more surface area on your fruit or vegetable, making them heat more quickly when frozen—any higher temperatures could damage their delicate structure.

In fact we find this myth particularly harming for people who buy from friends and family members who may not be aware of this habit—the last thing you want is for a fresh, luscious fruit or vegetable to go bad because spotty neighbors stored their veggies without cleaning first.

How long should vegetables stay in the fridge? Why ? Vegetables can last two-to-four weeks after being bought at your local grocery store—in fact , some experts suggest how many days prior to serving them start on the ‘stew’ (so long as they’re not wilted) in the fridge to be safe.

A favorite way of actually extending their life—and ours, if we eat them! —is by freezing fresh produce when it has surpassed its prime: juices are clear and fizzing at room temperature make an aroma enticing . If it’s been frozen for too long, just prep whatever you intend on using within 10–12 “days ,” and then freeze the rest.

A great way to get veggies on-the-fly is a green smoothie—just take one of these produce/fruit blends, toss in some hemp or flax seed (which help absorb nutrition), use ice if you can’t blend it up right away.

Easy Lunches That Don’t Need to Be Refrigerated

There’s no need to sacrifice taste when it comes to your lunchtime meal plans! Check out these easy, delicious and nutritious lunches that you can take with you anywhere – whether you’re at work, at school, or just hanging out with friends.

1. Avocado and Bacon Salad – This salad is perfect for a quick and easy lunch that can be eaten cold or at room temperature. It’s packed with healthy fats and protein, so you’ll be satisfied without having to worry about calories or carbs.
2. Quinoa and Vegetable Bowls – This bowl is perfect for anyone who is looking for something filling but light. It’s packed with healthy seeds and vegetables, so you’ll be feeling satisfied without any heavy-handed ingredients.
3. Chicken Wrapped Asparagus Rolls – These rolls are perfect for a quick but delicious meal that can be enjoyed in minutes. They’re packed with flavor from chicken and asparagus, so you’ll be able to enjoy a tasty but healthy lunch without any fuss.
4. Spicy Quinoa Burrito Bowls – These bowls are sure to please the whole family – even the pickiest eaters! They’re packed with complex flavors and textures, so everyone will be able to find something they love. Plus, they’re easy to make and take less than 30 minutes to cook up!

Surprising Foods You Don’t Need to Put in the Refrigerator

Here are 7 surprising foods you don’t need to put in the refrigerator:

1. Avocados – Avocados can stay at room temperature for up to two days.
2. Bananas – Bananas will keep for up to two days if they are wrapped in plastic and stored in a cool, dry place.
3. Applesauce – Applesauce can last in the refrigerator for up to four weeks, provided it is sealed and refrigerated.
4. Pineapples – Pineapples can last in the refrigerator for up to four weeks if they are cut into small pieces and stored in a covered container.
5. Grapes – Grapes will keep for up to two days if they are stored in a cool, dry place.
6. Sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes will keep for up to two weeks if they are stored in a cool, dry place and wrapped in foil or paper towels.
7. Hummus – Hummus can last in the refrigerator for up to three days if it is sealed and refrigerated.

Conclusion

As we all know, food can be a precious commodity. We have to make sure that our food is stored properly and won’t spoil if we don’t have time to prepare it right away. It’s not always easy though because even the best of us sometimes forget where they put their groceries or what they put in their fridge or freezer. Sometimes, we just can’t seem to remember. So here are some foods that travel well without refrigeration.

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