I’ve been looking for methods to make my fruit last longer and was wondering whether it was OK to put fruit in the fridge. I’m sure you have the same question.
Most fruits, in general, can be kept in the refrigerator.
Yet, some fruits deteriorate or go bad faster in the fridge.
The following fruits should be stored in the refrigerator:
- Apples
- Apricots
- Figs
- Melon de honeydew
- Rock melon (cantaloupe)
- Berries, blackberries, and so forth.
- Grapes
- Plums
All other fruits should be kept on the counter.
When stored in the fridge, banana flesh, for example, might assume a strange hue and have a soft mushy feel.
There are also additional concerns regarding fruit, such as the container to keep them in or whether to leave them loose on the fridge shelves.
I’ll go through how to store fruit in the fridge and how to deal with fruit flies in the sections below.
Contents
- How Long Can Fruit Stay in the Fridge?
- Which Fruits Should Be Refrigerated?
- Will Fruit Flies Die in the Fridge?
- What Is the Fastest Way To Get Rid of Fruit Flies?
- Is it better to keep fruit in the fridge or out?
- FAQs
- What fruits should not be refrigerated?
- Which fruits should be refrigerated?
- Why fruits should not be refrigerated?
- Why do fruits last longer in the fridge?
- What are 5 fruits that can be stored in the refrigerator?
- Should you refrigerate grapes?
- Should I refrigerate strawberries?
- What foods shouldn’t you put in the fridge?
- Do you refrigerate apples or not?
- Which fruits last the longest in fridge?
How Long Can Fruit Stay in the Fridge?
So some fruits may be stored in the refrigerator, but how long can fruit be stored in the refrigerator?
Here’s what I discovered based on my own experience and the experiences of a slew of other individuals who have stored fruit in the fridge.
Fruit may be stored in the refrigerator for about a month.
Following then, the skin may begin to shrivel.
The flesh of the apple, on the other hand, stays fresh and delectable.
Some fruits deteriorate quicker than others depending on how ripe they are when placed in the refrigerator.
It’s best to put fruit in the fridge after it’s ripe, rather than before.
Fruit that is stored in the refrigerator before it is ripe will go rotten before it is edible.
Some fruits will stay longer if you perform some extra preparation or store them in certain containers.
Here’s a rundown:
Berries
Berries should not be stored in close proximity to one another for long-term storage.
This, however, might take up a lot more space in the fridge.
As a result, it is usually simpler to preserve berries near each other and consume them immediately.
You can, however, freeze them.
Some individuals suggest preserving berries in a vented container.
For example, in a holey plastic bag.
The berries are said to stay longer because the air circulates.
Certainly something to consider.
A nice method is to use plastic wrap and poke holes in it with a fork.
You may then use a dish or other container that you have laying around.
Today I’ll go through some exceptional scenarios when it comes to preserving fruit in the fridge.
Fruit that should be stored in a paper bag
- Grapes
- Plums
In the fridge but loose or stored however you like
- Apples
- Apricot
- Figs
- Melon de honeydew
Any other fruits should preferably be left on the counter or in the cupboard.
Which Fruits Should Be Refrigerated?
Some fruits should not be refrigerated since they deteriorate quicker or the texture changes.
The following fruits should be refrigerated:
- Apples
- Berries, blackberries, and so forth.
- Grapes
- Apricots
- Watermelon
- Figs
- Rock melon (cantaloupe)
- Melon de honeydew
- Plums
All of these fruits will keep on the counter or in the pantry for about a week, but you can prolong their life to roughly four weeks.
After that, you may notice a reduction in flavor and texture.
List of fruits that should not be refrigerated:
- Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit are examples of citrus fruits.
- Mango
- Pomegranates
- Pineapple
- Bananas
The following fruits may be stored in the fridge or pantry:
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Pears
- Plums
It does, however, depend on the weather.
Fruit, for example, can mature and go bad quicker if left out if you reside in a tropical location.
As a result, you should consider storing it someplace shaded and cool.
For example, in a basement with a concrete floor.
Apples, for example, mature and are available to harvest in late autumn.
And they don’t spoil when stored in a chilly cellar in an apple crate during the winter.
That way, they may be consumed all winter long without going bad.
Nevertheless, if you keep them out in full sunshine, they will rapidly overripen.
Will Fruit Flies Die in the Fridge?
Fruit flies appear from time to time in my pantry.
So I was curious if fruit flies died in the refrigerator.
Fruit flies will not perish just because they are in the refrigerator.
Yet, you could find dead fruit flies in the bottom of your refrigerator.
Fruit flies deposit eggs in decaying fruit, which hatch in the refrigerator.
But, if they do not have a food supply, they will perish.
Fruit flies are often cold tolerant and may live in a refrigerator.
They perish in the freezer, though, when their bodies freeze solid.
Fruit flies will survive for a long period as long as there is fruit to consume before trying to lay eggs and dying.
As a result, if you have fruit flies in your fridge, avoid having any loose fruit laying about.
You may also get rid of them using a variety of approaches.
What Is the Fastest Way To Get Rid of Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies may seem to be a nuisance, yet they have the ability to lay eggs and reproduce.
As a result, getting rid of them is an excellent idea.
I researched into the best approach to get rid of them and discovered the following:
Removing any food source is the most natural strategy that works within 24 hours.
Include any fruits and veggies.
Some remedies, such as fly spray and the use of a fly trap, will be effective.
The fruit flies, on the other hand, will return if there is a supply of food for them.
If you store fruit on the counter without covering it, fruit flies will soon be hanging out and resting on the fruit and the surrounding area.
It may attract a big number of fruit flies over time.
They will woosh into the air every time you pass by or pick up a piece of fruit.
Food tent method
Using a food cover is a wonderful technique to keep fruit flies at bay.
It’s a wireframe covered in fine fabric pulled taut and fashioned like the silver domed meal platters used to serve hotel cuisine.
You know the ones where they raise it to show a dish of food underneath?
On Amazon, you can find some pretty fantastic ones, such as this one.
Fruit flies, even in great numbers, will not significantly consume your fruit, thus it is preferable to let them die or fly away naturally, in my view.
Fly spraying is usually hard since you have to spray it all over the fruit.
Fly spray is very hazardous, therefore it is not recommended that it be sprayed directly on food.
But, doing so and then properly washing it may help.
At the end of the day, as long as the food supply is removed, they will go swiftly.
For instance, suppose you had a dish of fruit on your counter with several fruit flies buzzing over it.
Fruit flies cannot land on fruit if it is placed in a container and then covered with a food cover.
As a consequence, they will be unable to consume it and will either perish or go in search of another source of food.
If you already have fruit flies, store any fresh fruit you purchase separately under its own feeding cover.
You’ll eat all the fruit that already has fruit flies or throw it away if it goes bad over time.
Then your fresh fruit will be free of fruit flies.
Is it better to keep fruit in the fridge or out?
Some fruits may be stored in the fridge as well as on the counter or in the pantry. But which is superior?
As a general rule, storing some fruits in the refrigerator extends their life.
You may choose to eat your fruit at room temperature rather than cold.
For example, during the winter.
As a result, you may want to store some fruit in the fridge and some on the counter.
However, chilled fruit is extremely refreshing in the summer.
As an example, try chilled papaya with lime juice or a crisp, juicy apple.
Fruit flies love to land on and linger out in soft brown spots that form when the fruit starts to rot.
The brown part of certain fruits, such as apples, tastes bitter.
Bananas, on the other hand, are usually safe to consume even if they have some brown spots.
When bananas are overripe, many people notice that they have a slimy quality.
And using bananas in a cake, banana bread, or muffins is a terrific way to use them up.
You’d otherwise toss them aside.
When baked, they have a sweet, robust taste that pairs nicely with chocolate frosting or chocolate pieces in the cake, muffins, or bread.
But, it also goes great with cream cheese frosting.
FAQs
What fruits should not be refrigerated?
Fruits that should not be kept in the fridge
If left out on the counter, apricots, Asian pears, avocado, bananas, guava, kiwis, mangoes, melons, nectarines, papayas, passion fruit, pawpaw, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, plantain, plums, starfruit, soursop, and quince will continue to mature.
Which fruits should be refrigerated?
Apples, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, pineapples, strawberries, tangerines, and watermelon are delivered ripe and should be stored in the refrigerator.
Why fruits should not be refrigerated?
1. The majority of fruits and vegetables should be kept at room temperature. Refrigeration may cause cold damage or hinder fruits and vegetables from developing to a nice taste and texture. Pink tomatoes, for example, mature to a richer flavor and red color when kept at room temperature.
Why do fruits last longer in the fridge?
The chemical mechanisms that drive plants to develop and mature also lead fruits and vegetables to rot. In consequence, cooling aids in the preservation of plant tissue. Maintaining these meals at low temperatures slows the aging process significantly.
What are 5 fruits that can be stored in the refrigerator?
What fruits and veggies SHOULD you keep in the refrigerator?
Apples (after seven days at ambient temperature) (after seven days at room temperature)
Apricots.
Pears from Asia (nashi)
Blackberries.
Blueberries.
Cherries.
Chop the fruits.
Figs.
More to come…
•Feb 16, 2023
Should you refrigerate grapes?
Fresh grapes should be kept in the refrigerator. They grow around 30-32 degrees Fahrenheit with 90-95% humidity, so put them at the back of your crisper drawer (the coldest area in the fridge).
Should I refrigerate strawberries?
Fresh strawberries should be refrigerated immediately, but will keep on the counter for a few days. Remove any bruised or otherwise blemished berries and lay the remaining berries in a colander or open-weave basket to allow for sufficient ventilation.
What foods shouldn’t you put in the fridge?
Bread. Save loaves of bread in the cupboard unless you want stale, dried-out pieces on your favorite sandwich.
Oil. Vegetable, olive, coconut, and other culinary oils, like honey, can soon harden in the fridge…. Melons…. Avocado…. Onions…. Potatoes…. Garlic.
Do you refrigerate apples or not?
A fresh, entire apple may be kept at room temperature for approximately a week, but once chopped, it must be refrigerated until baked into a pie. Then keep it at room temperature for up to two days.
Which fruits last the longest in fridge?
The 16 Longest-Lasting Fruits (If You Know How to Store Them)
Clementines. Watermelon. Grapes. Cantaloupe. Kiwi. Blueberries. Cherries. Cherries will keep for approximately a week if kept dry and cool… Mango. A ripe mango, sweet and juicy, will keep in the fridge for approximately a week.
More to come…
•Jul 13, 2022