How Long Does Fruit Last In The Fridge?
Norah Clark
There is a wide selection of different types of fruit on the market, some that we've not been able to lay the chance to try before. As we wander along the aisles the options are vast, and we often buy too much. It's also possible that you don't wish to visit the market.
After a couple of days, it becomes apparent that you've got over-ripe fruit. It is beneficial to know the length of time the fruits last. If you have been gifted one of our popular fresh fruit hampers - this article will be highly beneficial to you!
Of course, you can simply store them in the refrigerator to ensure they don't go away too quickly. However, you must be aware of how long they will last in order not to risk ruining your delicious fruit.
What is the length of time that fruits last inside a fridge? Since there are a variety of varieties of fruit that their shelf-life in the fridge can vary from a few days to a few months and can be influenced by a variety of aspects. Different fruits have different shelf lives however, in general, you can figure out their approximate longevity based on the kind of fruit.
There are thousands and varieties of fruit everyone will have its own shelf-life, which can be affected by many factors.
In this article, we'll explore different categories of fruits and the shelf-life of some of the most well-known fruit varieties.
What Affects the Shelf-Life of Fruits?
Certain fruits last for 2 days, and some, two months. If you're wondering why they can have different timespans There are some things to consider.
- The content of moisture plays an important part in all food items. The greater the amount of moisture is, the less shelf-life (if there are no preservatives).
- The time of the fruits is a significant aspect in determining their shelf-life. The majority of fruits are picked before they are ripe. They are stored at extremely low temperatures, which makes them nearly dormant. As when they are taken to stores, the growing process continues at a fast pace.
- Another element that affects the shelf-life of freshly picked fruit or vegetable is the length of time it was stored after it was picked before it arrived at the supermarket.
When we talk about shelf-life we're discussing how long they'll last after they are fully mature but not necessarily starting from the day you purchased them.
The best thing you can do is observe the fruit, adhere to the timeframes, and look for physical changes related to spoilage.
Pomes
Pome fruits are a fruit that is created by flowers of plants. They are classified based on their structure. Each has a central core filled with seeds and surrounded by flesh.
The fruits in this category are apples and pears, kiwis, and quinces. There are a variety of kinds of each fruit, and all of them have their distinctive flavour, texture, and form.
The most important element determining a fruit's shelf longevity is the time it was picked, the conditions it was grown in, and the temperature it was stored in.
The apples are stored in cold storage for 2 to 12 months before they reach the market. When you purchase the apples, they'll last for two months in the refrigerator.
Pears are a little less shelf-life. They mature very slowly in the tree, and the clock begins moving much quicker when they are taken off the tree.
The best way to tell whether your pome fruit has gone bad is to look for signs that the flesh is dry and grainy, as well as the skin being stretched and discoloured. It must be removed if there are any signs of mould growth or spores on flesh.
Stone Fruit (or Drupes)
The stone fruits, also known as drupes, are any fruit derived from only one seed. The seeds are protected by a tough endocarp that is what we commonly refer to as the pit. The entire fruit is smothered with soft flesh and juicy skin.
The most popular examples of drupes include peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums.
The next section might surprise you. However, mangoes, cherries as well as avocadoes are also classed as drupes. They are classified as the sub-categories of drupes due to their biochemical structure.
These fruits are never classified in different categories due to their additional, more prominent traits. For instance, mangoes are better in the category of tropical fruit because of their geographic place of origin and their seasonality.
We could provide an extremely detailed explanation however, for the purposes of this article, we will refer to drupes in the form of stone fruits like apricots and plums.
The majority of stone fruits undergo an extremely fast ripening process which is why they are preserved and packaged for an hour before they are sold in stores, typically between 2-4 months, depending on the type of stone fruit.
Apricots are expected to last about seven to ten weeks in the fridge. Peaches have a shorter shelf-life of around 5 to 7 days when they are whole and 2 to 3 days when cut. Plums and nectarines have similar shelf lives to peaches.
The most reliable way to determine whether stone fruits are bad is to touch their flesh. If the fruit makes an indent when you press it lightly, it is beyond its best. Another sign that it is overdue occurs when its skin begins to develop brown spots or if mould begins appearing on top.
Berries
Berries are small fruit that typically has bright shades. Different varieties of berries come with different tastes, sizes, shapes and shapes. The scientific classification of the berries is any fruit created from a single flower's ovary.
Similar to drupes, other fruits are also in this category but are less well-known. Examples include bananas, chilli peppers, and grapes. Due to other characteristics that are more prominent, the fruits are better suited to different categories.
The most common berries are strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and gooseberries.
Berries are seasonal and, once matured completely (usually when they enter the market), can last up to 3- 7 days before beginning to soften. They are very delicate in storage, and keeping them in the refrigerator is crucial.
In contrast to other fruits that can be stored outdoors (even if it reduces the shelf-life), the berries will turn soft after a few hours.
Raspberries don't have the longest life span ( 2-3 days) due to their thin skin and juicy nature. Strawberries tend to be a bit softer yet last for only a few weeks, even a few weeks maximum.
Gooseberries and blueberries have tougher skin that is nearly leathery and helps to keep it in good condition for longer. They can last for about a week in the fridge.
Berries soften and become discoloured as they start to go away. However, they can also begin to mould fast, so be very careful!
Melons
Melons can be described as round and fleshy fruits with incredibly thick, hard skin. They are generally extremely sweet and ought to be tender but juicy. They are available in a variety of sizes. However, they are quite a bit bigger than the typical fruit.
Melons are grown on the ground in the form of large, sprawling vines. If the stem starts to crack, the farmers are aware that this is the ideal moment to harvest the melons as the melons are mature. This guarantees that the melons will be well-developed in flavour and hue.
The most common melons are watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, canary, and more. They come in a variety of sizes, colours, and tastes, and all have an impact on the shelf-life.
Whole melons also last longer than those cut. They have a tough rind that has to be removed before the flesh is eaten. Due to their dimensions, there is no method to consume only the smallest quantity at a time.
The fresher your melon is riper, the longer you'll be able to preserve whatever you've yet to consume.
Melons last about 2 months in the refrigerator if they are whole and for about four to seven days following having been cut.
Once melons are past their peak, their flesh begins to dry and rough. The colour of the flesh will begin to fade, the skin begins to soften, and some may even develop mould.
Citrus
Citrus fruits are fruit which grows on orchids that flower. They are divided into segments and have an extremely thick rind which must be removed before eating. The rind is typically utilized as a flavouring agent since it has an intense flavour.
There is a myriad of fruit varieties that are appreciated and well-known. They include citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits and limes, lemons, and pomelo. These are all categories of citrus and come with a variety of varieties under these.
Each of these fruits comes with various flavours ranging from sweet to tart and sour. This helps extend the shelf life since, chemically, certain components keep one fruit longer than others.
Fruits like citrus are extremely nutritious because of their thick skin. They can be stored in the fridge for up to three to four weeks.
After they are removed from the branch, the fruits will have around a 3-week shelf-life at temperatures at room temperature.
Certain climates have to import their citrus, and they are chilled until they are almost not mature in the first place. After they're reintroduced to the market they can last for three to four months.
Some citrus fruits can also develop mildew over them however this doesn't necessarily mean they've gone away. Clean the white remnants with an untidy cloth and eat them after a couple of days.
The most effective way to tell if citrus is gone is to test if the flesh's inner side is smooth. If you press on the flesh, and it creates an indent even if it's free of blemishes, the fruit is beyond its best.
Citrus will not change hue unless they're beyond their expiration date. The skins dry up and turn brown or will turn soft and soft.
Tropical Fruits
Tropical fruits are the majority of produced in climates that have high temperatures. They all look exotic, and that's an aspect of their appeal.
In contrast to other categories of fruit, they don't necessarily look similar to them. The fruits that fall under this category include pineapples, bananas, mangoes, mangoes, passionfruit, lychee and numerous others.
It is a broad category since each kind of fruit comes in various varieties.
They vary in shape, size, texture, colour and taste, making them more difficult to store.
We will only talk about the shelf-life of the most popular fruits within this category.
When fully matured, pineapples last approximately 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator, whereas mangoes and Kiwiswill last longer due to their skin types, about 3-4 weeks.
The passion fruit also can last for a long time in the refrigerator. Based on how ripe the fruit is, it could last for 2 to 5 weeks.
The best method to tell whether the fruit is overripe is to test their flesh to feel if it is soft and examine their skin for any signs of bumps.
Recommended fruit storage times in the fridge:
Apples |
3-4 weeks |
Apricots (ripe) |
4-5 days |
Avocado (ripe) |
3-5 days |
Blueberries |
1-2 weeks |
Cherries |
4-7 days |
Cranberries |
3-4 weeks |
Gooseberries |
2-3 days |
Grapefruit |
2-3 weeks |
Grapes |
5-7 days |
Guava (ripe) |
3-4 days |
Kiwi (ripe) |
5-7 days |
Mango (ripe) |
5-7 days |
Melons (ripe) |
7-10 days |
Nectarine (ripe) |
3-5 days |
|
2-3 weeks |
Peaches (ripe) |
3-5 days |
Pear (ripe) |
5-7 days |
Pineapple |
3-5 days |
Plums (ripe) |
3-5 days |
Pomegranate |
1-2 months |
Prickly pear (ripe) |
1-3 days |
Raspberries |
2-3 days |
Rhubarb |
5-7 days |
Strawberries |
3-5 days |
Watermelon |
2 weeks |