There are a few grapefruits stored in your fridge for a couple of days now and you do not want them to go bad. This leads you to think: what is the length of time the grapefruit last?
Perhaps you've come home with a plethora of red, pink or white grapefruits and you're wondering about the best way to preserve the fruit - is it the same as storing other fruits in the fridge?
Learn everything you can you need to know about a grapefruit's shelf-life. Find out how long they last, how to determine if they are bad and the best way to keep them.
Do you have to keep them on the counter in a bowl of fruit or put them in the refrigerator? How much of difference is there in choosing one method of storage over other?
| Pantry | Fridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Whole grapefruit | 1 week | 2 - 3 weeks |
| Cut grapefruit | 1 day | 3 - 4 days |
The dates that appear in this table are just estimations.
Whole grapefruits last for about one month at room temperatures, and between two and three weeks in the refrigerator. Grapefruits cut or sliced can be kept for about 3-4 days in the fridge until they begin to become soft.
(As you can see the storage times are comparable to the time that clementines stay.)
When you cut grapefruits, their storage time is reduced to just a couple of days. Therefore, if you wish to prepare them ahead to eat throughout the week, don't cut more than what you'll require for three days.
If youwant to use of the entire grapefruit beforeit becomes rotten (and you don't want to risk the freezing of grapefruits),one alternative is to juice the fruit. Grapefruit juice can be a fantastic refreshing drink. If it's a bit bitter, you can always add an ingredient to sweeten it or dilute it by adding water.
If you're not doing it already you can remove the albedo, or the white layer that lies between the peel and the fruit before you eat grapefruit. The albedo can be bitter, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the grapefruit flavor more if you cut it away.
To ensure your grapefruits last for as long as possible, select the highest quality one from the store.
Selecting a Grapefruit
We use this process when we go to market to handpick grapefruit for our fruit baskets, so simply look out for the following:
- It feels heavy when held in the hand. If a grapefruit appears hollow or light is a sign that it's losing water and the quality will not be good.
- Are firm when squeezed. Water loss shows that the fruit becomes soft. This is why we're looking for fruit which are firm.
- Skin that is smooth and free of any sunken bruises or spots. Bruising and soft spots can cause degradation.
If you purchase a fresh grapefruit at a bargain and it's in the soft inside then cut the storage time by half.
How To Tell If Grapefruit Is Bad?
The signs of spoiled grapefruit are:
- Mold or rot. If either is the case, it's obvious that the fruit has gone bad.
- A soft texture, or even water leaks. Grapefruit loses moisture content with time. If the entire fruit is soft or mushy then its quality isn't enough to be eaten.
- A stale or 'off' scent. This is especially vital for refrigerated, dissected grapefruit.
- Storage time too long. If that whole, unpeeled grapefruit is sitting in the vegetable drawer fora month, or thedissected pieces fora week, it's the right time to throw them away.
Your senses are pretty adept at identifying fruit that is not safe to consume. Make use of your nose, eyes and sense of taste to confirm that your grapefruit remains safe to eat.
Small spots that are sunken or damaged on the peel can be repaired. If necessary, you can remove the portions or sections that are near, and reuse the remainder.
The first indication that your grapefruit is degrading is typically the shrinking of the stem end because of loss of moisture.
If you observe that your specimen is soft in the area, it's time to take it off or at the very least, create a plan to do this within the next couple of days. If not, it could become so soft that it's useless. Peeling grapefruit
How To Store Grapefruit
The ideal location to store whole grapefruits in a plastic bag is the crisper drawer inside the fridge. If you're happy with ashorter storage period, you canputgrapefruits in a bowl at room temperature.
The decision to freeze grapefruits will depend on the length of time you'll require to keep the fruit for.
If you're looking for more storage space you can put the grapefruits into the freezer bag or in an airtight container. These will help in keeping the moisture for a longer period of time. If you're using bags, make sure to squeeze out as much air as you can prior to sealing the bag.
Whengrapefruits that have been cut, they should be stored in a resealable bag or container, and then in the refrigerator.
