Having ripe, succulent fruit around is an integral part of healthy eating and few foods taste better or are better for you! Whether it’s a crisp apple, a tender raspberry or a delicious, juicy peach,fresh fruit is a health food that everyone loves. Having said that, buying fruit might be discouraging sometimes because it quickly ripens and grows mold, but there are a number of ways to keep fruit fresh and part of your daily diet.
To prevent fresh fruit from discoloring, first peel and cut the fruit. Then fill a large bowl with about a quart of water and add a two vitamin C pills (crushed) or a spoonful of salt, then dip the fruit in the water. Tossing the fruit in lemon juice also works.
If one piece begins to go bad remove it immediately, it will make the other fruit spoil faster. Check regularly to make sure all of your fruit is good.
Don’t wash your fruit until it is ready to serve, this will help to prevent mold growth.
Try to keep apples away from other fruits because apples release a great deal of ethylene gas that stimulates the ripening of other produce.
Fruit should be stored in the correct place: strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, etc. should be kept in the crisper bin in the bottom of your refrigerator. Fruits such as oranges, bananas, peaches and pears should be kept away from direct sunlight at constant room temperature.
Here are some suggestions on where to store fresh fruit:
Cherries, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, rhubarb, blueberries, figs, blackberries, elderberries, boysenberries and all varieties of currants should go straight into the fridge, they have already ripened and will stay fresh longer when they are refrigerated.
Oranges, apples, tangerines, grapefruit, watermelon, limes, lemons and pomegranates will last a little longer if refrigerated, but they can stay out without a problem, it is also easier to peel citrus fruits if they are kept at room temperature.
Bananas, peaches, all varieties of melons, pears, pineapple, avocados, kiwi, apricots, plantains, guava, nectarines, passion fruit, papayas, mangoes and plums should be kept out of the refrigerator until they are fully ripened, if they are refrigerated before they are ripe they will not be as flavorful, nor will their texture be as good. Bananas should never be refrigerated.
Storing your fruit properly will not only extend their life, but they will stay at their peak of nutrition and taste better.
The Author:
Mark Gold has more than 27 years of experience in the Food and Beverage Industry. He has written numerous articles on foods and food preservation.