simple + green

Going 100% organic can be both expensive and a challenge to maintain. One solution? Choose from the following list of 10 Foods You Don’t Have to Buy Organic below. These are conventionally grown foods that retain the least amount of pesticide residue. Save your organic dollars for those foods that are treated with the highest amounts of pesticides, chemicals and hormones.

Asparagus
Tips for buying: Look for firm spears with bright green or purplish compact tips. Plan on a 1/2 pound per person. For more uniform cooking, select spears of a similar thickness. Store in the refrigerator vegetable crisper and give them a good rinse before using (even if you’re going to boil or steam them.)

Avocados
Tips for buying: Select avocados that are still somewhat unripe and firm to the squeeze. These will ripen nicely on your kitchen countertop in a couple of days. Store at room temperature. Although you’ll be using only the inside of the avocado, it’s always a good idea to rinse them before you slice them open.

Bananas
Tips for buying: There are basically 3 stages to a ripening banana. You’ll want to choose them according to how you’re going to use them. 1. Chosen green, where the peel is pale yellow and the tips are green: the taste will be somewhat tart. These work best for frying or baking in a pie. 2. Chosen at their next stage of ripeness where the peel is almost entirely yellow: the pulp will still be firm but their starch content will have started to turn to sugar. These also work well in pies and tarts. 3. Chosen in the last stage of ripeness, the skins will show signs of brown spots with the peel a deeper yellow color. This is when they’re sweetest and work well mashed and added to baked goods like banana bread recipes. Store at room temperature. If they’re unripe, you can place them in a brown bag to ripen. Give the bananas a quick rinse and dry before you peel them.

Broccoli
Tips for buying: Look for tightly bunched flower buds on the broccoli stalks that are immature (avoid those where the little yellow flowers have opened). The broccoli should be a deep green color and the stalks should be firm and not rubbery. Before use, wash in a cool water bath and change the water a couple of times in the process. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

Cabbage
Tips for buying: Look for cabbage heads whose leaves are tight and be sure the head is heavy for its type and firm. For most cabbage varieties, you’ll want to make sure their outer leaves are shiny and crisp. You’ll want to avoid any with leaves that show signs of yellowing. Bok choy should have deep green leaves with their stems a crisp-looking white. Discard the outer leaves of a cabbage before using. You can wash and spin most cabbage leaves just like you do salad greens. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

Kiwis
Tips for buying: Sniff out kiwis that smell good. They should be plump, and yield to a squeeze like that of a ripe pear. Steer clear from those with moist areas on their surface or have any skin bruising. If unripe kiwi are all that are available, take them home and place them in a paper bag at room temperature with other fruits that need more time, such as bananas or pears. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

Mango
Tips for buying: Look for those that are bright in colors such as red, yellow, or orange. It should have a distinctive “fruity” smell. Steer clear of those without a ripe fruit aroma. Mangoes should be slightly firm but yield to your touch somewhat. Rule: the softer the mango, usually the sweeter it is. If the mango is too soft, there’s a good chance that it will be rotten inside. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

Onions
Tips for buying: Look for onions that are firm, have a distinctive “oniony” smell that’s not overpowering, and show no visible signs of damage or soft spots. Store in a cool dry place or in the refrigerator.

Papaya
Tips for buying: Papaya colors usually range between yellow and green. Look for those that are slightly soft and show no signs of bruising or look shriveled. If they’re not fully ripened, you can place them in the brown bag along with your under-ripened kiwi fruit, peaches, and pears. Once they’re ripened, store in the refrigerator crisper.

Pineapples
Tips for buying: This is one fruit that you won’t want to choose if it has a strong, sweet smell. This usually means that the pineapple is overripe and has even begun to ferment. Like all other fruits, avoid any that have soft spots or in the case of a pineapple, damage to the rind (outside). Store in the refrigerator crisper.