If this is the first time that you are on your own and are completely clueless about buying the most basic salad ingredients, don't worry. Help is here. You can easily get familiar with the right method to buy your ingredients. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while shopping for vegetables and fruits.

The ground rule is of course, to pick vegetables, which look healthy. The outer skin should be free of discoloration. Always choose the vegetables in season for best value.

Buying vegetables and fruits

Cauliflower: To check if a cauliflower is healthy, simply pull back the outer leaves of the flower and look between the florets to ensure that there are no insects or signs of decay. The Florets should be a healthy white and not yellow.

Cucumbers: Cucumbers should be large, straight and firm with shiny skins.

Cabbage: Before buying a cabbage always check that the heart is firm by pressing the centre with your thumb. Avoid those that have soft outer leaves or brown or damaged patches.

Lettuce: Lettuces should be firm and crisp. Avoid ones with discoloured leaves.

French Beans: While buying French beans try to snap a bean between the forefinger and the thumb, if it is fresh it will snap under light pressure. If it isn't very fresh it will bend.

Grapes: Before buying grapes, shake the bunch gently, if you find that a few grapes fall off, then the branch is not fresh.

Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges and grapefruits should feel heavy for their size; this indicates that they are juicy.

Pineapple: A pineapple that is fresh and ready to eat will have a sweet scent. To check if it is ripe, just pull a leaf at the top of the pineapple. It should come off easily..

Banana: If you intend to consume the bananas over a couple of days, buy slightly green under-ripe bananas. They ripen in a few days at room temperature. To know when they are ripe, check if their skins are flecked with brown.

Storing vegetables and fruits

Bananas: Whole bananas can be stored for up to six months if they are frozen with plastic wrap. Eat them while slightly frozen or mash them up for drinks.

Citrus fruits: To store Citrus fruits longer than a week, wrap them in newspaper and then place in a plastic bag. Put away in a cool, dry place.

Grapes: Preserve grapes by wrapping them loosely in newspaper and putting them away in a dark place.

Mushrooms: Remove mushrooms from the plastic bags they come in and store them in a brown paper bag at the bottom of the refrigerator where there isn't too much moisture.

Tomatoes: Do not store unripe tomatoes in the refrigerator. Instead, if you have a whole bunch of unripe tomatoes, place them in a brown paper bag with one ripe tomato and store in a cool dark place.

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