Fruits Shelf Life
Fruit falls into two camps: fruit that ripens after picking (bananas, avocados, peaches, pears, mangoes) belongs on the counter until ripe and then in the fridge, while fruit that does not (berries, grapes, citrus, cherries) goes straight into the fridge. Once any fruit is cut, it is a perishable food with a 2-hour counter limit and a 3–5 day fridge life.
31 foods · times shown are for the most common state of each food; tap a food for every state, storage tips and spoilage signs.
Berries
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackberries Fresh |
3–5 days | 8–12 months | Not recommended |
| Blueberries Fresh |
1–2 weeks | 8–12 months | 1 day |
| Cranberries Fresh |
3–4 weeks | 8–12 months | Not recommended |
| Grapes Whole |
1–2 weeks | 8–12 months | 1 day |
| Raspberries Fresh |
2–3 days | 8–12 months | Not recommended |
| Strawberries Whole |
3–7 days | 8–12 months | 1 day |
Citrus
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grapefruit Whole |
3–6 weeks | Not recommended | 1 week |
| Lemons Whole |
3–6 weeks | 3–4 months | 1 week |
| Limes Whole |
3–4 weeks | 3–4 months | 1 week |
| Oranges Whole |
3–4 weeks | Not recommended | 1 week |
Cut fruit
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit Salad Homemade |
3–5 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
Dried fruit
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates Whole, soft (Medjool) |
6 months | 1 year | 1 month |
| Dried Fruit Opened |
6 months | 1 year | 1–3 months |
| Raisins Opened |
6–12 months | 1 year | 3–6 months |
Melons
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cantaloupe Cut |
3–4 days | 8–12 months | Not safe |
| Watermelon Cut |
3–4 days | 8–12 months | Not safe |
Other fruit
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomegranate Whole |
1–2 months | Not recommended | 1 week |
Pome fruit
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apples Whole |
4–6 weeks | Not recommended | 1–3 weeks |
| Pears Ripe |
3–5 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
Processed fruit
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applesauce Opened |
7–10 days | 8–12 months | Not safe |
Stone fruit
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apricots Ripe |
3–5 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
| Cherries Fresh |
4–7 days | 8–12 months | Not recommended |
| Peaches Ripe |
3–5 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
| Plums Ripe |
3–5 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
Tropical fruit
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado Ripe |
3–5 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
| Bananas Whole |
3–5 days | 2–3 months | 2–5 days |
| Coconut Whole |
2–3 weeks | Not recommended | 1 week |
| Kiwi Ripe |
5–7 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
| Mango Ripe |
5–7 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
| Papaya Ripe |
3–5 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
| Pineapple Whole |
3–5 days | Not recommended | 1–2 days |
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature. Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers. Freezer times are best-quality windows at 0°F (−18°C).