The Best Way to Preserve Fruits and Vegetables and Shop the Farmers' Markets

Bargains are very abundant at the farmers' markets this time of year that you may be tempted to go overboard, buying far more fruits and veggies than you'll need.

But there are clever ways to preserve veggies and fruits for the long haul, so you'll be able to enjoy them later in the fall and early winter.

Here's what to do:

Drying is best for tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplant and fruit slices.

Dried fruits and vegetables have a very concentrated flavor, so a little goes a long way.

First, heat the oven to 200 F. Slice veggies or fruits 1/3" thick and lay in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Sprinkle veggies with salt (don't use it with fruit slices).

Bake 4-6 hours, or until pliable but quite shriveled-there should be no condensation or moisture in the pan at all.

Store stacked in single layers between paper towels in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Freezing breaks down the cellulose fibers that give produce its firm structure, so defrosted items will be better suited to cooking than to eating out-of-hand.

Most fruits and vegetables can be frozen.

Peel and seed extremely juicy vegetables (like tomatoes), and remove the pits of stone fruits (like peaches and apricots.) Although blueberries can be frozen in their original packaging, other fruits need a little preparation.

Chop and slice fruits and vegetables into 4" pieces or smaller.

Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet for 1 hour, then transfer to individual zip-top (or lock) bags; freeze for up to 6 months.

Since practically all of the produce sold in farmers' markets is grown locally, it's picked at a riper stage than the regular supermarket produce. Therefore, buy only what you will use in the next three days.

Ripe fruits and vegetables will feel heavy for their size, have deep, even coloring and yield slightly to pressure.

Don't buy any bruised and blemished items. Also avoid grossly overgrown items-they'll typically have a mushy texture and watered-down flavor.

Inspect the entire bin. Many fruits an vegetables (including tomatoes, peaches and apples, release ethylene gas as they ripen (An honest farmer will remove any produce past its prime as soon as possible, to make sure that the fruits and veggies surrounding it are not also affected).