This Simple Refrigerator Trick Keeps Make-Ahead Veggie Platters Fresh Until Serving Time

Of the mistakes that could ruin your holiday brunch, New Year's canapés, or run-of-the-mill baby or wedding shower, not providing something fresh for your guests' snacking pleasure is a biggie. A veggie platter, which also may be called crudités, is a colorful, crunchy, nutritious hosting essential to master (and it's not a bad idea for your own daily snacking, either). One unfortunate fact about veggie platters, however, is that they require a lot of work. Cleaning, peeling, slicing, blanching, roasting ... prepping all those vegetables is not for the faint of heart, which may beg the question of how far in advance you can get away with making everything ahead.

The answer: it depends. Certain veggies are more susceptible to wilting than others, while hardier specimens may stay vibrant and crisp for much longer. No matter what seasonal produce you're serving up — and don't forget the dips and sauces, the same way you'd pair them with grilled vegetables — you can remember one simple trick to keep everything fresher until you are ready to unveil your gorgeous platter. Simply cover your cut veggies with wet paper towels. The dampness in the paper towel drape will replace any moisture being leached out of your veggies in the dry air of the fridge and prevent the surfaces from getting desiccated and unappetizing. When you're about to serve your crudités, simply uncover the tray and lay it out.

Covering your veggie platters with wet paper towels could save your get-together (or weekday noshing!) from the heartbreak of stale, icky veggies. To maximize the benefit of this hack, make sure that you are using thicker paper towels that can really absorb a decent amount of water and won't rip when you lay them over the uneven surface of your veggies. If your veggies do happen to look a little worse for wear after sitting for a few hours, don't despair! Soaking them briefly in an ice water bath will generally do the trick to breathe new life into many types of veg and buy you a bit more time. Just set them back under the paper towels once their bath is done.

Again, make sure that you consider exactly what veggies you will be putting out when you consider how far in advance you can get away with cutting them. Storing veggies the right way will ensure that they hold up the best, even with your paper towel drape. Generally, two to three hours is a pretty safe bet. The best way to store sliced tomatoes is in an airtight container in the fridge, while you might find that cherry tomatoes do best at room temperature. Some veggies do well stored in water, like carrots and celery, while eggplant needs to stay dry. By storing your veggies the right way, you can ensure that you get the most mileage from them when they are cut.