Vegetables are best when you can enjoy their fresh and satisfying crunch. There are several tricks to preserving and enhancing the crispness of your favorite veggies.

Storage: Keep vegetables in your refrigerator's crisper. It has a higher humidity level, so your veggies stay hydrated and crunchy. Create “mini crispers” in zip-top bags by adding a damp paper towel in with lettuce and spinach. Don't overcrowd your crisper; let the veggies have room to breathe.

Soaking: To return the crunch to veggies that lost their luster, soak them in ice water. It will return the moisture to the vegetable cells and refresh the crispy texture. Wilted lettuce can be brought back to life by soaking in iced water with a touch of white vinegar.

Blanching: After steaming veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, or green beans for just a few minutes, plunge them into a shocking ice water bath. It will stop the cooking process and preserve the crunch that is typically lost with cooking.