Using my Iranian grandma's fridge trick keeps my crisper drawer pristine – and fresh produce lasts twice as long

I lived in Iran as a little girl and spent every summer and school holiday there after we left. That special time living in my grandmother's Tehran apartment influenced my habits for a lifetime.

One thing my grandmother always did was wash every fruit and vegetable as soon as it came home, before drying and putting them in her fridge crisper drawer. It made her product last twice as long and kept that space immaculately clean.

Experts say it’s a brilliant cleaning tip to stop grime build-up and mold in your crisper drawer and stop your fridge from smelling.

Why cleaning your fruit and vegetables before placing in the fridge helps

In Iran, there’s a cultural focus on bacteria and viruses, and no wonder. The most ill I’ve even seen some of my relatives from the west be has been when they ate unwashed fruit or vegetables in Iran.

To wipe out that risk, most Persian households clean fresh produce with water and dish soap, then wash and dry everything properly before placing them in the fridge drawer.

It’s not as unusual a practice as some might first imagine. Professional cleaner Karina Toner of Spekless, says my grandmother’s habit makes her smile, as hers did the same. Karina explains, ‘She’d line everything up at the sink the moment she got home, like a little ritual. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but now? It makes total sense.’

Karina adds that washing produce right away isn’t just about removing dirt or pesticides, though that’s obviously a win and crucial for creating a non-toxic home. She says, ‘It’s one of those subtle habits that creates a cleaner, more intentional kitchen overall. You’re less likely to find mystery liquids pooling at the bottom of your crisper drawer, and it just makes you more likely to eat the good stuff when it’s ready to go.’

That said, I’ve learned to be a bit selective when doing this habit at home. Some fresh produce, such as leafy greens or soft berries such as raspberries, don’t love being washed and stored unless you really dry them thoroughly or consume them soon after. Otherwise, they can turn on you fast.’

Karina is spot on. That’s why I clean, dry and store my berries in glass jars with air-tight lids, available from Amazon, and they keep nicely for a week without going mushy. You can also make use of the crisper storage bins available at Amazon that protect soft fruit from the dry air of the fridge but allow a space for any condensation or water to drop down and away.

Karina says, ‘So I fresh produce case by case, but heartier items like apples, peppers, or cucumbers always get the full wash-and-dry before they go in.’

This fresh produce washing habit is something that has stuck with me, and whilst it certainly makes putting away your groceries take a bit longer, nothing is stopping you from breaking it up into a few batches. That’s how I manage as a person with disabilities, chronic pain and limited capacity to stand up, as I always use adaptive pacing for cleaning.

The benefits of my grandmother's fridge trick are:

• It makes your fresh produce last longer.
• Your fridge drawer stays much cleaner.
• You don’t need to clean the dirtiest part of your fridge, the drawer, as often because yours will be pristine!
• It’s quicker to cook as one step of your food prep is already done.

Karina adds, ‘It’s one of those old-school nostalgic cleaning tips that seems simple but ends up being a smart little act of self-care and organization. Your fridge stays cleaner, and your food’s more likely to get eaten. Honestly, a win-win.’

Fridge essentials

Besides our top picks for food-safe cleaning such as The Scrub Daddy, and non-toxic cleaning essentials such as vinegar and baking soda, all available at Walmart, these nifty items will help organize your freezer and stop food waste.

All prices were correct at time of writing.

Next, learn what things you should never do to your fridge if you want to avoid costly repairs and early replacement.