Fruit and veg: how long does it last in the fridge?

Fruit and veg are always a great addition to your diet, though it’s hard to keep track of what fruit and veg expires when. At The Veg Box Company, we’ve made this handy article to help you remember how to store fruit and veg the right way and how long to keep it for.

How long does particular fruit and veg last in the fridge

To keep you in the know, this article is going to talk about how to store these fruits and veg in the fridge:

• Green beans
• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Lemons
• Mushrooms

Does fruit and veg last longer in the fridge?

As a general rule, fruits and vegetables do last longer if they’re kept chilled within the fridge. Keeping your produce in the fridge helps to slow down the bacteria that cause the fruit and veg’s decay.

Some fruit and veg benefit from being kept at room temperature as they’ll continue to ripen, such as bananas and potatoes, but most will last that little bit longer in the fridge.

Good tips on how to store fruit and veg

To help you out and to keep you in the know on how to store fruit, here are some general tips for you 

• Don’t get produce that’s visibly bruised or damaged.
• Pick fruit that is refrigerated or frozen if it has already been sliced.
• Keep your fruits and veg away from seafood or raw meat.
• Keep your produce in its original packaging (if any comes with it).
• Store produce in the salad crisper drawer of your fridge to keep it lasting as long as possible.

Green beans

Green beans last 3-5 days in the fridge.

When you’re using green beans, the beans should be slender and firm without any visible seeds. You’ll be able to see if they’re on the turn if they’ve become droopy or moist.

Strawberries

Strawberries last 3-7 days in the fridge.

Strawberries are best eaten when they’re aromatic and vibrant. Throw your strawberries into your compost pile if you begin to see mould on the strawberries’ surface or if they begin to feel mushy.

Oranges

Oranges last 3-4 weeks in the fridge.

Good oranges will look bright and feel slightly firm to the touch. Check your oranges for any soft spots before you eat them.

Carrots

Carrots last 3-4 weeks in the fridge.

When your carrots begin to feel soft and look a little white in colour, it’s best not to eat them. If your carrots still have their green tops, you should cut these off and keep them separately.

Broccoli

Broccoli lasts 7-14 days in the fridge.

Broccoli should have a deep, green colour. You should eat your broccoli when the stems feel solid and discard it when they’re flaccid.

Lemons

Lemons last 3-4 weeks in the fridge.

Healthy lemons will have a radiant yellow colour and be a little firm to the touch. You can tell a lemon is too ripe when it has squashy areas, dark blotches or when it’s leaking juice.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms last 7-10 days in the fridge.

If a mushroom begins to feel sticky or slimy, it’s gone off. It’s better to buy whole mushrooms as these will last longer than if you get them pre-sliced.

How long does fresh fruit and veg last in the fridge compared to supermarket produce?

Though these are the generally recommended amounts of time to store your fruit and veg in the fridge to keep them fresh, the freshness can vary depending on where you get your produce. Buying fresh produce as opposed to supermarket produce can help keep it fresher for longer. Fruit and veg sold from supermarkets spend several days being transported, then can sit on a shelf for several more days before you finally take it home.

With our fruit and veg boxes, your produce is delivered straight from local farmers to you within one day of being picked. Many of the fruit, veg and salad items will still have been growing on the day we pack your box. You won’t get fresher fruit, veg or salad unless you pick it yourself. 

<h2>Fresh fruit and veg delivered to your door</h2>

You can get your own freshly picked produce, guaranteed to stay fresh, in our very own fruit boxes or veg boxes. For the best of both the fruit and veg worlds, try out one of our build your own veg boxes.

All of our Veg Boxes and Food Gift Boxes are delivered within 24 hours of being picked, ensuring our produce is as fresh as possible, every time.

If you’d like to find out more about what you can get from The Veg Box Company, including fruit, vegetables, potatoes, dairy products, and much more, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 01772 724406, or email us at hello@thevegboxcompany.co.uk.