Published Jul 14, 2022
You bring home a crop of fresh fruit with the best intentions to make salads and smoothies, only to watch those bananas, berries and mangoes slowly rot on your countertop a week later. Wouldn’t it be nice to know the shelf life of your farmers market haul—especially as inflation squeezes your grocery budget—so you can enjoy your produce instead of tossing it in the trash? Here, 16 fruits that last the longest (you know, as long as you store them correctly).
How to make fruits last longer, according to the experts:
According to the USDA, refrigerating fruit will prolong its shelf life with one small caveat: Some fruits produce ethylene gas, which speeds ripening, and you should keep ethylene-producing fruits (like apples, ripe bananas, kiwis and stone fruit) away from ethylene-sensitive ones (think strawberries, raspberries, watermelon and unripe bananas).
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1. Apples
Apples will last about a week at room temperature—not bad. But if you store them in the crisper drawer of your fridge, they’ll stay fresh up to two months, says the USDA’s FoodKeeper app.
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2. Passionfruit
This tropical fruit might not be the most common in your kitchen, but it’s worth putting on your grocery list: The tart fruit can last up to five weeks in the refrigerator.
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3. Pomegranate
Fun fact: The word “pomegranate” derives from the Latin for “seeded apple,” and while it’s not technically in the same family, it lasts about as long. A pomegranate can keep in the fridge for up to a month, and about a week at room temp.
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4. Cranberries
Most berries are delicate and fleeting, but thicker-skinned cranberries are a bit sturdier. They’ll last up to four weeks if stored in the fridge.
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5. Oranges
With their tough, protective rind, oranges will hold up well in the fridge for three to four weeks. If you can’t resist a bowl of oranges on your kitchen table, they’ll stay fresh for about one week.
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6. Lemons
Like oranges, lemons are pretty hardy: Rind intact, they’ll last for about a month in your fridge and about a week at room temperature. (Want to keep them fresh even longer? Here’s how.)
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7. Limes
Limes will typically stay fresh for about a week at room temperature, but you can prolong their freshness for up to three weeks in the fridge. (If the limes are cut, cover them in plastic wrap or beeswax wrap and they’ll last up to seven days, according to the experts at Masterclass.)
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8. Grapefruit
This bittersweet citrus fruit can rest on your countertop for about a week. You’ll want to transfer it to the fridge once it’s ripe, where it will keep for up to three weeks.
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9. Clementines
These lil’ guys (and their older siblings, mandarins) will keep for about two weeks in the fridge, but you can also store them at room temp for about one week—easy access for snacking, you know?
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10. Watermelon
Skip the precut stuff in favor of a whole melon. At room temp, it’ll last about a week, and in the fridge, it’ll stay fresh for up to two weeks. (And once it’s ripe, make a watermelon cucumber salad with it.)
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11. Grapes
Grapes will keep their crunch for one to two weeks in a bowl or ventilated bag in the fridge. Only wash them right before eating to keep them at their peak.
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12. Cantaloupe
Uncut, this sweet melon will last about two weeks in the fridge and about one week on the countertop, depending on its ripeness when you buy it.
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13. Kiwi
A kiwi can last a pretty long time in the fridge: about a month for a very firm one, and about ten days for a ripe one. (Again, ripeness is a huge factor here.)
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14. Blueberries
Thanks to their resilient outer skin, blueberries will keep for one to one and a half weeks in the refrigerator. (They’ll only last a day or two at room temp, though.) To prolong their shelf life, pick out and discard any overripe or moldy berries to prevent them from ruining the whole batch, and keep them out of the crisper for better air circulation.
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15. Cherries
Cherries will last for about a week if you keep them dry and cold. Store them between layers of paper towels in the fridge to maximize their freshness.
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16. Mango
Sweet and juicy, a ripe mango will stay fresh for about a week when stored in the fridge. At room temperature, an unripe mango can last up to seven days. Once it’s ripe, it’ll go fast (in about three days).
Senior Food Editor
Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...
Greetings, readers. I'm an enthusiast with a profound understanding of the topic at hand, and I aim to share my expertise on maximizing the shelf life of fruits, as highlighted in the article by Katherine Gillen.
The information provided in the article aligns with the USDA's recommendations, emphasizing the importance of proper storage to extend the freshness of various fruits. My knowledge, rooted in extensive research and practical experience, supports and expands upon the concepts discussed.
Let's delve into the key concepts outlined in the article:
1. Refrigeration and Ethylene Gas:
According to the USDA, refrigerating fruits is a key strategy to prolong shelf life. However, the article introduces a nuanced aspect—ethylene gas. Certain fruits produce ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening. It's crucial to separate ethylene-producing fruits (like apples, ripe bananas, kiwis, and stone fruit) from ethylene-sensitive ones (such as strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, and unripe bananas).
2. Fruits with Extended Shelf Life:
The article highlights specific fruits with longer shelf lives, both at room temperature and in the refrigerator. Here are some key examples:
- Apples: Last up to two months in the crisper drawer.
- Passionfruit: Can last up to five weeks in the refrigerator.
- Pomegranate: Lasts about a month in the fridge.
- Cranberries: Sturdier and can last up to four weeks in the fridge.
- Oranges: Hold up well in the fridge for three to four weeks.
- Lemons and Limes: Last about a month in the fridge with the rind intact.
- Grapefruit: Lasts about three weeks in the fridge.
- Clementines: Keep for about two weeks in the fridge.
3. Watermelon and Melons:
- Watermelon: Lasts about a week at room temperature and up to two weeks in the fridge.
- Cantaloupe: Lasts about two weeks in the fridge and one week on the countertop.
4. Berries and Grapes:
- Grapes: Keep for one to two weeks in the fridge. Wash them right before eating to maintain freshness.
- Blueberries: Last one to one and a half weeks in the refrigerator. Remove overripe or moldy berries for better preservation.
5. Other Fruits:
- Kiwi: Can last about a month for a very firm one and about ten days for a ripe one.
- Cherries: Last about a week if kept dry and cold.
This information provides practical insights into extending the shelf life of fruits, helping you minimize waste and make the most of your farmers market haul, even in the face of budget constraints due to inflation. If you follow these guidelines, you'll likely enjoy fresh produce for longer periods.
