12 Tricks to Make Groceries Last Longer and Save Cash

Keep fruits and veggies whole (until you need them) if you want them to last longer. Don't break off a stem, break it apart, or chop it into pieces if you're not going to eat it. "As soon as you start pulling fruits and vegetables apart, you've broken cells, and microorganisms start to grow," says Barry Swanson, a food scientist at Washington State University.