How to Store Every Single Type of Fruit (Even If It's Half Eaten)
Fruit salad season is upon us. (Gah, it’s the best.) But the next time you hit the farmers’ market to stock up, wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly how to store all the delectable berries you bring home? Here, a guide for every single type of fruit.
Apples
How to Store: As soon as you bring them home, stash ’em in the fridge. They should be good for up to three weeks.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Cover the remaining half (or slices) in tightly pressed plastic wrap and stick the apple back in the fridge. This will help prevent browning, which is caused by oxidation.
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Pears
How to Store: You should refrigerate them for a shelf life of about five days.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Same deal as apples; cover the slices with plastic wrap.
Avocados
How to Store: Pop them in the fridge as soon as they’re ripe. That way, they’ll keep for about three days. (If they’re not ripe, store them on the counter.)
If You’ve Eaten Some: Brush lemon juice on the uneaten half to prevent it from browning, then press plastic wrap against the surface before putting it in the fridge.
Bananas
How to Store: These can sit on your countertop and should stay fresh for about five days.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Ideally, the uneaten half is still in the peel. If it is, just wrap the exposed end with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge.
Grapes
How to Store: Stick them in a bowl (or ventilated bag, like the one they come in) in the fridge and they should stay fresh for up to a week.
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Raspberries
How to Store: To maximize their shelf life, you should remove the bad ones from the carton first, then lay them out on a paper towel-lined plate in your fridge. This way, they should keep for three to four days.
Blackberries
How to Store: Ditto the raspberries.
Tomatoes
How to Store: You can store these guys in the fridge. Just let them come up to room temperature before you eat them. (They should stay fresh for about a week.)
If You’ve Eaten Some: It’s best to store them in the fridge with the cut side down on a paper towel inside Tupperware.
Melons
How to Store: Keep it in the fridge and it should last for a week or more.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Keep any sliced up leftovers in a plastic dish covered with plastic wrap.
Mangoes
How to Store: Fridge storage is best to keep them fresh for about four days.
If You’ve Eaten Some: It’s fine to keep chopped up mangoes in a plastic bag in the fridge.
Blueberries
How to Store: Get rid of any overripe berries, then keep them in their original plastic container inside the fridge. (They should last a full week.)
Cherries
How to Store: Stick them in a bowl and keep them inside the fridge for a three-day shelf life.
Oranges
How to Store: Just set them in a bowl on your countertop and they should stay fresh for a week or more.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Keep any uneaten slices in a plastic baggie.
Grapefruit
How to Store: Just like oranges, this can also rest on your countertop for about a week for maximum freshness.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Store leftovers (plus, whatever juice you can save) in a plastic container.
Kiwi
How to Store: Tuck them in the fridge and they should last three to four days.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
Peaches
How to Store: If they’re ripe, pop them in the fridge and they should keep for five days.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Ideally, you can slice it up and keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Pineapple
How to Store: If it’s whole, keep it on the countertop and it will keep for five days. But if it’s sliced, you should keep it in the fridge.
If You’ve Eaten Some: Cover it in plastic wrap.
Strawberries
How to Store: Just like blueberries, you should get rid of any gross-looking berries first, then store them in a perforated container (like the one they came in).
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