As you bring more fruits and vegetables into your diet, learning how to determine ripeness and store fresh produce properly, and understanding the shelf life of various produce is important. You’ll save money and enjoy perfectly ripened fruits and vegetables.
Fresh fruits and vegetables look beautiful and delicious at the local farmer’s market or grocery store. So much so, the average person buys much more than they’ll eat before the produce passes its prime. In fact, according to the National Resources Defense Council, the average American family of four wastes up to $2275 annually on discarded food and beverages—twenty-five percent of what we purchase!
The biggest tip when choosing fresh produce is using your senses. How does the item smell and feel?
- Fruit. A light, sweet smell is a good indicator that the fruit is fresh and ripe. Pick it up—the surface should be smooth and even, with a firm surface, but not rock-hard. Pits and dents under the surface can indicate damage during shipping, or slow rotting. The flesh of the fruit should be firm, but with a little give. Most fruit that’s rock hard is not ripe.
- Vegetables. Apply the same rules for choosing fruit to vegetables. The vegetable’s surface should be consistent, evenly colored, and firm all the way around. Most vegetables—like cucumbers, peppers, onions, garlic, and potatoes, should be as firm as possible.
Buying locally and in season, directly from local farmers or farmers markets will also allow you to save on costs. You will support your local community, and it is a great way to ensure the produce is fresh and in season. As you engage and build relationships with local growers, you’ll quickly learn how “just picked yesterday” fruits and vegetables smell, look, and feel.
Some fruits and vegetables continue ripening after they’ve been picked; others don’t.The below chart indicates if you can expect further ripening.
| Produce that Ripens After Picking | Produce Picked When Ripe |
| Apples Apricots Avocados (ONLY ripen after picking!) Bananas (will ripen a great deal and can be picked green) Cantaloupe Kiwi Mangoes Nectarines Papaya Peaches Pears Persimmons Plums Tomatoes |
Berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries) Cherries Citrus (such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit) Cucumber Eggplant Figs Grapes Olives Peppers Pineapple Pomegranate Summer Squash Watermelon |
Storing Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Many fruits and vegetables—like apples, grapes, and onions—can be stored on the countertop. Others should be refrigerated to preserve freshness.
- Countertop Storage. To keep all countertop-stored produce fresh, store it directly on the countertop, in an uncovered bowl or wire basket, or inside a perforated plastic bag.
- Refrigeration Storage. Store perishable fresh fruits and vegetables (like strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, and mushrooms) in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40° F or below. If you’re not sure whether an item should be refrigerated to maintain quality, ask your grocer. Also refrigerate pre-cut or peeled produce to maintain both quality and safety. For produce stored in the refrigerator, keep these guidelines in mind.
- Keep produce in perforated plastic bags in the produce drawer (you can easily punch holes into a plastic bag for this purpose).
- Store fruits and vegetables separately, in different drawers.
- To store herbs, snip off the ends and store upright in a glass of water, covered with a plastic bag.
Countertop or Refrigerator?
| Store on Countertop | Store in Refrigerator | Store in Cool, Dry Place |
| Apples Bananas Cucumbers Eggplant Garlic Ginger Grapefruit Jicama Lemons Limes Tomatoes Mangoes Onions Oranges Papaya Peppers Persimmons Pineapple Plantains Pomegranates Watermelon |
Artichokes Asparagus Beets Blackberries Blueberries Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cherries Corn Grapes Green beans Green onions Kale Leafy vegetables Leeks Lettuce Lima beans Mushrooms Peas Plums Radishes Raspberries Spinach Sprouts Strawberries Summer squash Zucchini |
Acorn squash Butternut squash Onions Potatoes Pumpkins Spaghetti squash Winter squash |
How Long Will It Last?
All fruits and vegetables have a specific shelf life; a prime consumption period based on ripeness and storage. The below chart details common vegetables and fruits and how long you can expect them to last after purchasing.
| 1-2 Days | 3-4 Days | 5-6 Days | 7+ Days |
| Artichokes Asparagus Bananas Basil Cherries Cilantro Corn Dill Green beans Mushrooms Strawberries Watercress |
Arugula Avocados Bok Choy Chard Eggplant Grapes Lettuce Limes Pineapple Zucchini |
Apricots Blueberries Brussels sprouts Cauliflower Grapefruit Leeks Lemons Oranges Oregano Parsley Peaches Pears Peppers Plums Spinach Tomatoes Watermelon |
Apples Arugula Beets Bell Peppers Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Celery Cucumbers Garlic Hard Squash Kale Onions Parsnips Potatoes Radishes Scallions Sugar snap peas |
Jody Amato is a freelance writer and editor and regular contributor to Eating in the Real with Renée TM. To find out more about Jody visit her website at jodyedits.com.
Sources:
- Barnes, Liza and Stepfanie Romine. “How to Keep Fruits and Veggies Fresh.” SparkPeople.com, http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1103. Accessed August 9, 2015
- Henry, Alan. “How to Select Fresh, Ripe Produce.” Lifehacker.com, http://lifehacker.com/5816320/how-to-select-fresh-ripe-produce. Accessed August 9, 2015
- “Raw Produce: Selecting and Serving It Safely. FDA.gov, http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm114299.htm. Accessed August 9, 2015
- “How Long Does Fresh Produce Last?” RealSimple.com, http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/fresh-produce. Accessed August 9, 2015
- Day, Julie. “Which Fruits and Vegetables Continue to Ripen After Picking?” Today’s Home Owner, http://www.todayshomeowner.com/which-fruits-and-vegetables-continue-to-ripen-after-picking/. Accessed August 9, 2015