Cooking noobs everywhere, don‘t worry! Next time you shop for your veggies, bring this guide with you! These tricks will help you to choose the freshest, finest ingredients on the shelf. 

1- Spinach

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Instead of getting pre-packed spinach at supermarkets, buy local, fresher ones at your green grocer's.  

Don't buy if they have brown, wilted or yellow leaves. And, check the packaging. You shouldn't get ones with too much moisture. 

2- Celery

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When you're shopping for celery, get one with:

-firm, crispy stalks with semi-thick ribs

- no rubbery texture on the stalks

- rich, green leaves

- no spot or uneven colour

- stalks that don't fan out a lot

3- Onion

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This one's a little tricky to know because there are many kinds of onions out there. But, here's are some general tips:

-Weigh it in your hand. Fresh onions are heavy & firm to the touch. Anything soft is a no go!

- Don't get ones with a lot of cuts & bruises. 

4- Potato

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This hack works for all sorts of potatoes: sweet potatoes, baking potatoes or boiling potatoes. 

- Choose firm ones with no dark spots/cuts/bruises on top. 

- Don't get green-tinged or discoloured ones. 

- Avoid the old, stale ones with growing sprouts. 

5- Chilli 

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For dried chilli, get the unbroken & glossy ones. They should be wrinkled, not dusty & old-looking. 

As for fresh chilli, only buy the firm & glossy ones with a good shape. Avoid anything soft with black spots, bruises or cuts. The stems should look green & fresh.