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Judging Quality
Appears in
By Jaclyn Pestka, Wayne Gisslen and Lou Sackett
Published 2010
Choosing the best produce depends not only on sight but also on the senses of smell, touch, taste, and even hearing. When purchasing vegetables and fruits, evaluate their:
- Appearance. Fresh and fully mature produce has intense color. Avoid pale colors and multiple blemishes. Unless a vegetable or fruit is intended for display, imperfectly sized or shaped specimens are perfectly usable. Vegetables should be of medium size and slender for their type. The optimal size of fruits depends on their intended use.
- Feel. Insist on touching the vegetables and fruits you buy. The weight and feel tell a lot about the inner texture. Produce should feel heavy in relation to size, signifying adequate internal water content. Produce, even tender items, should also feel firm to the touch.
- Aroma. Truly fresh vegetables not subjected to prolonged refrigeration and displayed at room temperature have a distinct, natural aroma. Ripe fruits are especially fragrant.
- Sound. When split or broken open, fresh vegetables are crisp. You should hear a distinct snap. Some fruits should also sound crisp.
- Taste. Taste vegetables and fruits during your purchase evaluation. Even vegetables usually served cooked should have natural sweetness and juicy mouthfeel when tasted raw.