Fresh Fruit Storage and Ripening Tips

Here are some basic storage and ripening guidelines for fresh fruit. Most fruits are best kept in a cool, dry place, such as on a countertop away from sunlight and heat. Humidity can speed up the ripening process.

Remember to always wash your hands and your fruit before eating, even if it’s organic.

Apples

Apples should be kept in a cool space away from sunlight and heat. Depending on the variety, they will keep in a cool space for up to two weeks. When refrigerated, most apples will keep for 3–4 weeks.

Apricots

Apricots continue to ripen after picking. They should be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to the touch and have a sweet aroma. Once ripe, refrigerate apricots as necessary to prevent spoiling, but cold temperatures may change their texture and taste.

Apriums

Apriums are an apricot-plum fruit hybrid. They continue to ripen after picking and should be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to the touch and have a sweet aroma. After ripe, refrigerate apriums as necessary to prevent spoiling, but cold temperatures may change their texture and taste.

Avocados

Store avocados at room temperature until they are ripe. They’ll give slightly to pressure when they’re ready to eat. To ripen avocados faster, put them in a paper bag for a couple of days. After ripening, they may be refrigerated for several days, and half-avocados should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge with the pit still in place (to limit browning).

Bananas

Store bananas at room temperature away from direct sunlight and heat. Bananas become yellow, soft, and sweet as they ripen. If you want to speed the ripening process, put bananas in a paper bag with an apple overnight. The natural ethylene gas released by the apple will help ripen your bananas. Bananas are very delicate and can be easily damaged by extreme temperatures, hot or cold. Refrigerating bananas will turn their skins black. Black-skinned bananas were most likely exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Even refrigerated, the flesh inside will continue to ripen and can still be eaten. Bananas that become too ripe can be peeled, sliced, and frozen for use in smoothies, or used for baking.

Berries

Berries are picked ripe and should be enjoyed as soon as possible. Berries should be kept refrigerated. Remove only what you will eat, wash in cold water, and eat. Do not wash berries until you are ready to eat (or freeze) them.

Cherries

Refrigerate unwashed cherries in a plastic bag for 7-10 days. Before eating, rinse the cherries in cold water and let them warm to room temperature before eating for best flavor. If you think you might not eat them before they spoil, try pitting and freezing the cherries for a refreshing treat in the hot summer months!

Figs

Figs are picked ripe. If they are hard, let them sit a room temperature until soft. Once ripe, refrigerate figs until ready to eat. Wash before eating and enjoy them cold, or at room temperature. Figs can be peeled or eaten with the skins according to taste.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit can be stored at room temperature for a week or so. Keep out of direct sunlight. You can also refrigerate grapefruit for up to several weeks.

Grapes

Grapes should be stored in the refrigerator, unwashed and dry, and kept on their stems (rather than loose). Wash them in cold water just before eating. If you rinse grapes before putting them in the fridge, they’ll only last a few days—since even a tiny amount of moisture will encourage bacteria growth, as will the exposed area left behind by the stem. Dry, refrigerated grapes on the stem can last up to two weeks. You can also freeze washed single grapes and eat them like little popsicle treats.

Kiwi

Keep kiwifruit at room temperature until ripe, when it gives slightly to the touch. Once ripe, refrigerated kiwi will keep for a few days. Very firm unripe kiwi can keep refrigerated for up to two months. Wash your kiwi and eat with the skin or cut in half and scoop it out with a spoon.

Lemons

Lemons can be stored at room temperature for up to 14 days. Keep out of direct sunlight. Refrigerated lemons can keep up to several weeks.

Limes

Limes can be stored at room temperature for a couple of weeks, out of direct sunlight. Refrigerated lines can keep for up to several weeks.

Mangoes

Mangoes can be stored at room temperature and will continue to ripen. When they give slightly to touch, they are ready to eat. Refrigerate mangoes to slow down the ripening process.

Melons

Store melons at room temperature until ripe. The best indicator of melon ripeness is the aroma. If a melon’s sweet fragrance is noticeable, it’s probably ready to cut and eat. The outside of the melon should feel firm but give slightly to pressure, particularly on the end where the stem was. If it feels rock-hard, give it a little more time. Wash thoroughly before cutting. Once cut, remove seeds by scooping them out with a spoon, cover and refrigerate.

Nectarines

Nectarines are climacteric, which means they ripen after picking. Nectarines should be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to touch and have a sweet aroma.  The FruitGuys strives to deliver them to you on the firm side so they won’t be damaged in shipping. To speed nectarine ripening, place them in a paper bag on the counter. When they’ve reached the desired ripeness, wash and eat. You can also refrigerate ripe nectarines for up to several days.

Oranges

Oranges can be stored at room temperature for a couple of weeks or refrigerated for up to several weeks. Keep out of direct sunlight. Wash and slice, peel and eat, or juice and drink.

Passion Fruit

Passion fruit is a fragrant fruit and is best eaten ripe, cut in half and scooped out. You can tell when a passion fruit is ripe when it begins to look shriveled. For the best tasting passion fruit, we recommend you store passion fruit on the counter out of direct sunlight and give it a few days to “wrinkle-up.”

Peaches

Peaches are climacteric, which means they ripen after picking. Peaches should be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to the touch and have a sweet aroma. The FruitGuys delivers them to you on the firm side so they won’t be damaged during shipping. Peach ripening can be hastened by placing them in a paper bag on the counter. When they’ve reached the desired ripeness, you can refrigerate peaches, but cold temperatures may change their texture and taste.

Pears

Pears are picked hard and continue to ripen. Pears should be stored at room temperature, away from heat and sunlight. Pears ripen from the inside out, so if it gives to the touch, particularly near the stem, it is ready to eat. You can slow ripening by refrigerating pears. Once ripe, the pear can be refrigerated for up to five days.

Plums

Plums continue to ripen after picking. Plums should be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to the touch and have a sweet aroma. Once ripe, refrigerate plums as necessary to prevent spoiling, but cold temperatures may change their texture and taste.

Pluots

Pluots are a plum-apricot cross. They continue to ripen after picking and should be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to the touch and have a sweet aroma. Once ripe, refrigerate pluots as necessary to prevent spoiling, but cold temperatures may change their texture and taste.

Pomelos

Pomelos are the largest citrus fruit. Pomelos can be stored at room temperature for a couple of weeks or refrigerated for up to several weeks. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat.

Satsuma Mandarins

Satsumas can be stored at room temperature for a couple of weeks or refrigerate Satsumas for up to several weeks. Satsuma mandarin skin is soft, pliable, and has an “airy” and puffy look and feel. Don’t let the looks of the peel fool you—this is a deliciously sweet-tart mandarin, one of our favorites.

Tangerines

Tangerines can be stored at room temperature for a couple of weeks or refrigerated for up to several weeks. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat.