



Fruit is life. At least it is for me. Cherries, peaches! Nectarines, apricots, strawberries, blueberries...I even love a basic banana. Throw some tasty veggies in there like kale and spinach and I’m set.
The thing is, they really make me work for it. As soon as I haul my precious edible gems home, it seems they turn mushy and wilt. Worst of all is when mold pops up and spreads. This is hard to stomach not only as a diehard fruit lover, but also because fresh produce can be pricey. No one wants to flush their money down the drain because that prized produce tapped out after 24 hours in your kitchen.
As the Armenian proverb goes, between talking and doing are mountains and valleys. So I took a break from my complaining to search for solutions.
I came across one winning remedy from Amazon: These hidden-gem Rubbermaid FreshWorks containers, which BuzzFeed Shopping editors swear by along with a host of Amazon reviewers, who’ve awarded the storage bins 3,500 5-star ratings.
Part of the secret to these Rubbermaid containers’ efficacy is their built-in filters. These filter vents help control the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within each container, helping create an ideal environment for your fruits and veggies to stay fresh. Plus, you don’t have to replace the filter: It’s designed to last for the entire lifetime of the container.
The bins also contain handy elevated bases that help keep produce away from excess moisture while further encouraging freshening airflow.

Reviewers absolutely rave about the containers’ usefulness. “My strawberries have lasted for a week and a half without molding, and I didn’t even have them in the produce drawer,” wrote a reviewer named Rani.
“I have yet to find any produce that does not last longer and stay fresher in one of these containers,” said another.
Folks also appreciate them for wilting-prone vegetables like spinach and lettuce. “It really does keep my salad ingredients fresher than using a regular plastic storage container,” wrote a reviewer named Michelle. “I buy the big bags of lettuce from Costco and I find the lettuce is fresher for twice as long.”
While the containers are an initial investment, they help save money in the long run, according to reviewers. They “quickly pay for themselves by reducing wasted produce,” noted one reviewer. “Now I can buy larger quantities of my favorite berries without losing half to spoilage.”

The containers are stackable when in use and can nest within each other when empty, so they’ll be space-efficient whether they’re full in your fridge or waiting in a cabinet. They’re also dishwasher-safe and BPA-free.
This set includes one medium-short and one large containers, both with matching lids; the medium measures 4.6 cups and the large measures 18.1 cups. The containers come in many other individual and pack sizes, too.
Note: According to Rubbermaid, the containers preserve freshness best with unwashed and uncut produce. The brand also says the bins work best with one type of produce in the container (as one reviewer put it, it ”[h]elps to keep items separate that don’t coexist well”).
These containers aren’t the only items helping extend the lives of our produce. Check out these other options that can help, below. And for more information about how to avoid mistakes when storing your produce, check out previous HuffPost coverage or the National Resources Defense Council’s Save The Food guide.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
This option holds 11.3 cups and sports Rubbermaid's built-in filter and elevated base. It's available in multiple other sizes.
Each liner measures 12 inches by 15 inches. They're designed to be cut easily with scissors to fit wherever you need.
Promising review: "I used to put paper towels down in the refrigerator vegetable and fruit bins to absorb the extra moisture and keep my produce fresh, but then a friend suggested I use this product.
The fruits and veggies definitely stay fresh longer with the new liners. Love this product." — Daniel Kraversky
These highly-rated jars hold 16 ounces and are designed to be airtight. They come in multiple pack sizes and styles.
Promising review: "I mostly use these to store things like berries and cherry tomatoes in my fridge. Before I had these, things were getting moldy before I could use everything. Since I’ve started using these, the fruit stays good for waaaaay longer, giving me time to use everything without wasting it (and saving me from having to buy more). Well worth the purchase." — Landon C.
This set includes one 2.4 cup version, a 9.1 cup version and a 22.5 cup option, all with matching lids. The containers are BPA-free and available in three colors.
Promising review: "One of my favorite kitchen gadgets! Keeps fresh fruit longer, better and easier for cleaning fruit, and easy storage. Only downside is they are not dishwasher safe." — Lindsay Rogers
This set includes one half-gallon bag, one 28-fluid-ounce sandwich bag and one 12 fluid ounce snack bag. Numerous other packs, bag sizes and colors are available.
Promising review: "These bags keep produce fresh for so much longer than baggies or anything else I have tried. This especially applies to grapes, lettuce and other greens, and pre-cut pepper strips. In Stasher bags these have kept for weeks. Without, they are mushy and browning within days." — May11
Promising review:"These are such a worthwhile purchase in such lovely colors! Allows you to eliminate wasteful plastic bags and very versatile usage. Cannot recommend enough." — Laura
Promising review: "My wife complains when I buy lettuce or spinach from 'Bulkco' in those big clam shell containers. It always seems to go bad before we finish most of the product. But these 'papers' extend the shelf life of lettuce and spinach so much that we rarely throw anything away due to spoilage. It’s great that they are reusable." — Bertman
It has three dividers so you can store multiple varieties at once, and it's designed to fit easily in a fridge door.
Promising review: "I bought this after seeing it at my friend's house and so glad I did!! Previously my cilantro would only keep about a week (no matter how many tricks I looked up on Pinterest or social media sites), but now it keeps for 2-3 weeks and sometimes more!! Plus, I like the fact it doesn't take up a whole lot of room in the fridge, and easy to clean." — J & S