Going to the market can be an invigorating experience, as you saunter slowly through, picking out optimal produce that was fresh picked by the farmers themselves just hours earlier. You get home and begin to put away your fresh finds, knowing that you better eat your favourite now, because they aren’t all going to be as delicious sitting in the fridge.

Storing produce incorrectly can lead to life-ending consequences (for the fruit, not you). But when you bite into your mealy apple, you might agree that it’s quite close to the end of the world if you were looking forward to a crisp, sweet segment.

Follow these simple how-to guidelines to lengthen the lives of your favourite fruits, maximizing flavour, shelf-life and nutrition.

Fruits to ripen at room temperature

Sometimes it’s a mental debate which fruit to leave on the counter or stow in the crisper. Although some might be obvious (bananas, for example), others might not be (plums). Refrigerating them too early result in a mealy, unfavorable (and flavourful) texture. When they are fully ripen, store in the fridge to slow down the process.

• Apricots
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Guava
• Honeydew
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Melons (all varieties)
• Nectarines
• Papayas
• Passion fruit
• Peaches
• Pears
• Persimmons (both Fuyu and Hachiya)
• Pineapple
• Plantains
• Plums

Fruits to put right in the fridge

Once you have picked (or purchased) these fruits, they’re done the ripening process. Leaving them at room temperature only lessens their lifespan, so refrigerating these ones right away is the best way to go.

• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Boysenberries
• Cherries
• Cranberries
• Currants (all varieties)
• Elderberries
• Figs
• Grapes
• Huckleberries
• Litchis
• Raspberries
• Rhubarb
• Strawberries

Fruits that don’t really matter where you put them

These fruits obviously last a little longer in the fridge, but can stay out for awhile without putting them at risk. Citrus fruits, for example, peel better at room temperature, and if you are juicing them, they extract more juice when they aren’t cold, too. A quick tip: If you do put your lemons in the fridge, pop them in the microwave for about 25 seconds before giving them a squeeze.

• Apples
• Clementines
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Limes
• Oranges
• Pomegranates
• Tangerines
• Watermelon

Not only does storing your fruit properly extend their life, but they taste better and stay at their peak of nutrition. (We recommend going into your kitchen and making a few adjustments.)

Image courtesy of peever2s.wordpress.com

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