How to Keep Fruit Fresh Longer

Few foods taste better--or are better for you--than a perfectly ripe, succulent piece of fruit. Whether it's a juicy peach, a crisp apple or a tender raspberry, fresh fruit is one health food that's easy to fall for. It's a good idea to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh fruit to make you more likely to eat it--as long as you follow a few tips to keep it from rotting before you have a chance to enjoy.

Things You'll Need

• Fruit
• Refrigerator

Instructions

1. Shop at a farmers' market or grocery store for the freshest fruit you can find. There should be no bruises, soft spots or mold on the fruit when you buy it.

2. Decide the best place to store your fruit. In general, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries and other berries should be kept in the bottom drawer of your refrigerator. Larger fruits such as bananas, pears, peaches and oranges should be kept at room temperature, away from direct sunlight or heat.

3. Give fruit plenty of space to breathe. Storing fruit in an enclosed space such as a bag traps the gases that are released as it ripens, causing it to ripen faster.

4. Monitor the fruit to make sure none of it is rotting. If one piece begins to rot, remove it, since it will make the other fruit spoil more quickly.

5. Move pears, peaches and other large fruit to the refrigerator as a last resort. This will buy you an extra day or two of freshness, but the coolness does rob some of its flavor.

Tips & Warnings

• When buying pre-packaged fruit, look carefully at the top and bottom of the container, because sometimes inferior fruit is concealed at the bottom.