It can be so confusing. You purchase fresh fruit from the farmers market, roadside stand or grocery store and bring them home; now you need to decide where and how to store them. Are they to be stored in the refrigerator or on the countertop?
We know that according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it is recommended we eat between one and one half and 2 cups of fruit each day, depending upon age and activity level. If we don’t store them properly, how do we maintain maximum flavor without needing to throw them away?
Fresh fruits purchased from farmers markets and roadside stands are picked fresh and are ready to consume after purchase. However, those purchased from the grocery store are likely picked before they are fully ripe and shipped to the store so they can survive the shipping process.
What should I keep on the counter? There are some fruits that will continue to ripen and should not be refrigerated until they are mature. If they are refrigerated before they are ripe, it could cause them to lose flavor and have a mealy texture. These fruits include: Apricot, avocados, bananas, kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums and tomatoes .
How do I speed up ripening? If you want to speed up the ripening process, you can place the fruit in a single layer in a large paper bag, fold the top down and check it every day to see if it has become ripe. Once fully ripened it can be eaten and the remainder refrigerated for safety.
What should I keep in the refrigerator? Some fruits are extremely perishable and must be refrigerated as soon as they are brought home. These fruits will not continue to ripen after they have been picked. Do not leave these on the counter at room temperature as it will speed the decay process. These delicate fruits include: Most berries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries; cherries, grapes, pomegranates , rhubarb and tangerines.