A Beginner’s Guide to Fruit Storage

When we’re young, our parents or guardians provide for us in many ways — grocery shopping and cooking included. When the time comes to move out on our own, we have to learn how to navigate the aisles and properly store, clean, and cook our own food.

One tricky subject area is fruit — after you make it home, where and how should you store it until you’re ready to consume? Well, we’ve paired up with our expert Produce team to share some helpful tips. Read now and pin this post to reference after your next shopping trip!

Put It Where You Found It

It sounds simple, but let’s be honest – it can be a little confusing whether picking up fruit from the refrigerated section means you should keep it cool at home or not. The truth is, wherever you find it in the store, that’s where you should store it at home. Although refrigeration can extend the life of some dry fruits, it’s best to store fruit how you found it for the best taste and quality.

• Cold Storage: Store refrigerated fruit in that small bottom drawer in your fridge that indicates it’s for fruits and veggies. Some examples of fruits you’ll want to keep cool are grapes, berries, and kiwis. Make sure you maintain the temperature and humidity as well as a clean storage space. A lot of times, random food particles and drippings can fall to the bottom of the fridge and land in that little drawer, so make sure it’s clean before you store your fruit.
• Dry Storage: For dry storage, make sure you store in a dry, room-temperature environment. The kitchen tends to be a bit of a warmer room in the house, so try to avoid storing there, if possible. Don’t worry too much about the container, as long as it’s dry and temperature-controlled. A fruit bowl works perfectly! Some examples of fruit you’d ideally store dry are tropical fruits, peaches and bananas.

Freeze For Later

You can freeze your fruit, too! This helps your fruit last longer, so if you’re not sure when you’ll get to it, it’s a great option. However, keep in mind that freezing your fruit will change the taste and consistency. The sugar sacks and moisture sacks in the fruit expand, which can make the fruit mushy when defrosted. On the bright side, this is a great option for smoothie lovers, and freezing your fruit won’t hurt the nutritional content. Another tip to try to uphold consistency is to cut up your fruit and place in a bowl of water before freezing it.

Ditch The Bag

You probably package your fruit in the produce bags we offer as you’re shopping, and that’s great! These bags are meant to protect your fruits and veggies during the transit from our store back to your home. However, once you’ve made it, go ahead and ditch the bag. They’re not really meant for storage purposes and your fruit will fare better outside of the plastic confines — whether stored dry or refrigerated.

Wash Before You Eat, Not Before You Store

It’s important to wash your fruit before you eat it, but make sure you don’t wash it before you store it. When you do, you’re washing off any protective layers, such as food-grade wax that keeps your fruit from dehydrating. So, hold off on washing until just before that first cut or bite.

Do More Than Just Store

The best thing about dry fruit storage is that you can make it more than just a chore – it can be a way to decorate your home and gather your family. Try opting for a nice fruit bowl in the center of your dining room table. It’ll entice your family members and guests to gather around the table for fruit munching and conversation. And, it’ll spice up the color and aroma of the space. Win/win!

A little knowledge goes a long way when it comes to fruit storage. Do you have any other tips for our beginners or any questions if you are one? Shout out in the comments.