What vegetable goes bad the fastest for you? (mushrooms, healthiest, tomatoes)

[70Ford]

Bean sprouts for me. It seems like if I don't use them in a day or three, they just go slimy. In fact, I stopped buying the large bags. Seemed like I was always tossing out the greater part of the bag, or using sprouts when they weren't needed. "Yes, more meatloaf? Sure, and grab some of those steamed sprouts, son". "And, son don't forget to get an extra helping of those bean sprouts!!!" No. Just.... No. They kind of lend themselves to one type of cooking, and don't easily transport over to other types. I.E. in Asian foods, or an asian meal, they are expected. In a meatloaf. mac and cheese, and carrots and peas meal.. not so much. I just always have a problem with that big bag of bean sprouts. Maybe I should have titled this post, "Trouble with bean sprouts."

[nmnita]

It seems to depend on what time of year and I guess how fresh the veggie is when I purchase it. I think, off the top of my hat I would say, green beans, followed by cukes, but again, there are times when other things go bad. I don't do the bean sprout thing so have no way of knowing, but I do know, cilantro can go bad pretty easily even if you use one of the secrets to keeping it fresh. I have had it last weeks and other times days, if I am lucky. The problem with cukes is they get soft, even if they are edible and I just can't stand them. Mushrooms are another that can be fresh for a few days to a week or shot within 72 hours after purchasing.

[thatswanlady]

Mushrooms have always been my wild card -- I've had too many go bad within a few days that I don't buy them unless I know I'm going to eat them within 48 hours. I've tried different methods of storage with mixed results and limited success.

Also fresh green beans -- I love them, but if I don't have immediate plans to cook them, I don't buy them.

[Gilah G.]

Mushrooms.
Cucumbers.

[gentlearts]

Cucumbers and bag o lettuce.
I have had better luck leaving the cucumbers open to the air, rather than in plastic.

[mrs.cool]

^^Me too. And in the bagged lettuce, the romaine goes the fastest.

[PennyLane2]

I seem to throw out a lot of green onions. I have stopped buying fresh bean sprouts. They never look very good and always have a little pool of brown liquid in the bottom of the bag. If I could get really fresh bean sprouts, I might change my mind because I love them in a stir fry.

[andywire]

I seem to find myself throwing away onions more often than I would like. Once they start getting soft, I just assume pitch them. Tomatoes are another problem veggie for me. I love vegetables, but I really have to make an effort to prepare them and make them easily accessible for those days when I have less energy to prepare a proper meal.

Thinks I buy because they keep longer include carrots, celery and heads of cabbage, apples, oranges, chayote... Anyone like yucca? That stuff keeps for quite a while and I've been eating quite a bit of it lately.

[70Ford]

I've actually used slimy brown spot covered store mushrooms before, with no ill effects. I just cut off the brown/black soft parts and washed them. Didn't get sick or any thing. I've had the same problems with cukes, that was mentioned. They go soft or mold real fast. Celery and carrots seem to last for weeks in the crisper. Celery can go soft, but throw it in some ice water to firm it, and it's right as rain for me. Or food process it and make cream of celery soup.

[DontH8Me]

The red leaf lettuces seem to go the fastest for me. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the most perishable veggies are the ones highest in Omega-3s so are healthiest for us. I've been reverting to European style shopping lately, and buying only enough for a couple days. The market is so close by it's actually no inconvenience. I've been throwing out a lot less produce that has passed its prime since doing this.