Before putting your produce in a storage container, it is important that it is washed to ensure that it is as clean as possible and will not spread bacteria to other product in storage. For greens, discard the top level of leaves and begin washing all the leaves individually, rubbing each one vigorously to make certain all microorganisms are removed. For hard, root vegetables, it is acceptable to use a brush to scrub the dirt and grime off the hard outside. Dry the vegetables completely, using a spinner if necessary and set in the storage container.
For dry goods, there is no need for washing, but sometimes, a little extra TLC is required. For sugar products, it is important to keep the ingredient store in an air tight container as any moisture can cause the sugar to harden and become less appealing for use in finer pastries. For brown sugar, however, once it hardens, it is virtually impossible to get soft again. For added protection against hardening, add a piece of bread in the container. This will absorb any moisture and prevent the sugar from hardening. Though little needs to be done to store white rice, when storing brown rice, it is best kept in the refrigerator for a longer life.