With the warmer months around the corner, it’s time to perfect your summer salad recipes. That means evaluating which fruits and vegetables are in season with a trusty seasonal produce guide.

One of our favorite additions to any salad? Cucumbers, which are in season throughout the spring and the summer. Something you may be wondering, though: How to store cucumbers to keep them fresh.

Many of us buy food in bulk to cut down on the number of grocery store runs we need to make throughout the week. But it seems like many of us buy more food than we’re able to eat before it starts going bad. When food goes bad, it goes to waste.

Here’s how to store cucumbers so they stay fresh and crispy for weeks. Then, discover tips on how to keep other food fresh, too: bananas, strawberries, celery, and lettuce.

How to Store Cucumbers: 5 Ways to Keep Them Fresh

1. Ditch the Plastic

Like most produce, cucumbers shouldn’t be stored in the plastic produce bags we receive at the supermarket. When many fruits and vegetables ripen—including bananas and avocados—they release ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone.

This ethylene speeds up the ripening process. Cucumbers are sensitive to ethylene, and keeping them in a plastic bag or the plastic wrapping they sometimes come in will trap the ethylene inside.

2. Keep Your Cucumbers Dry

When you bring your cucumbers home from the market, you need to wash them. Once they’re clean, always dry them completely. Wrap them in a dish towel to ensure they stay dry—and to keep mold and bacteria away from your fresh produce.

3. Use a Reusable Produce Bag

It’s oftentimes recommended to keep cucumbers wrapped in a paper towel, then place them in an open plastic baggie to allow for air circulation. However, that method can be wasteful. What if there was a reusable option for successfully storing cucumbers? Enter: Veggie Saver Produce Bags.

This reusable produce bag eliminates paper, plastic, and food waste while also keeping your fruits and veggies fresh for longer. It maintains the perfect amount of moisture inside the bag for your produce. It has even been proven to help your fruits and veggies stay fresh 2 to 4 weeks longer than produce kept in plastic.

4. Store Cucumbers in the Fridge

Whether you keep your cucumbers in your Veggie Saver bag or keep them in a reusable container, it’s important that they remain in a cold environment. Specifically, your fridge’s crisper drawer. This drawer is the perfect place for most vegetables, as the temperature isn’t too cold or too hot: it’s just right.

5. Store Sliced Cucumbers in Water

If you chopped your cucumbers, but you’re not using all the slices right away, it’s important to maintain moisture. Put your cucumber slices in a sealable, airtight container—preferably a reusable one. Then, fill the container with water and pop it in the fridge. It’s that simple.

This keeps moisture in and dry air out, leaving your cucumbers fresh and crunchy for when you’re ready to eat them.

Cucumbers, Environment, Veggie Saver Produce Bag