Packing fresh fruit and vegetables

[Jenniib]

This is how I keep fruit and vegetables fresh as long as possible. Wash and dry them completely before leaving home. Saves precious water. Layer them in your ice box or car fridge with old tea towels, cloth bags or muslin cloth. This stops them going slimy as they will in plastic.
I use softer fruit and vegetables first, eg tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber before capsicum, carrot, potatoes and apples.

Dehydrate your own fruit and vegetables for longer trips using a dehydrator and following the manufacturer's instructions. Toss them into soups, stews etc. Not all fruit and vegetables dehydrate equally well. Mushrooms, potatoes, onions, carrots work well for example. You can also dehydrate whole meals. Remember to allow for water to re-hydrate them. Pack dehydrated food in vacuum packed bags excluding the air using a vacuum gadget and the thick plastic bags provided with the gadget. Some foods become quite sharp once dried so wrap in paper towel or bubble wrap to prevent bag puncture.