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Fruits are amongst the most delicious foods on Earth – most of the fruits are high in vitamins and minerals and excellent for overall good health. Although fruits are best when eaten fresh and raw, some fruits can be easily stored with little loss of nutrient. Therefore, you can ensure your supply of fresh fruits especially thorough the winter and spring.
Apples
Whole apples can stay in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks and in the freezer for 10-12 months. Apples can also be stored in areas where the temperature is between 30˚ and 40˚ F with high humidity.
You can keep cut up apples in refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for 10-12 months. Use plastic or aluminum foil to wrap apples before refrigerating, or store in airtight container. For freezer, apart from washing, peeling, coring, and slicing apples, you need to coat apples with a solution made of one teaspoon of ascorbic acid for each 6 tablespoons of cold water to prevent darkening. Place in airtight containers or heavy duty-free freezer bags.
Dried apples can be stored in cool and dry areas, and they have the longest shelf life: 6-12 months in the refrigerator and 12-18 months in the freezer.
When you open commercially canned or bottled apples, you can keep them for up to 7 days in the refrigerator and up to 2 months in freezer. You cannot store them in opened metal can, you need to use covered glass or plastic container.
If you do not like plastic, store fresh apples on a cool counter or shelf, but remember, only up to two weeks. Use cardboard boxes for longer storage in the fridge.
Apricots
If you wish to store fresh cut up apricots you need to make a solution to prevent darkening. Use ½ teaspoon of ascorbic acid for each 6 tablespoons of cold water. You can also add sugar (½ cup) into each quart of fruits. Apricots can last in the fridge for 4 days and in the freezer for 10-12 months.
Whole apricots can stay in refrigerator for up to 5 days, while 10-12 months in freezer.
Shelf life of dried apricots is the same as for dried apples.
Blueberries
Fresh blueberries can last up to 2 weeks in refrigerator. Excess moisture hastens decay, so one should not wash them until ready to eat. Put them in a shallow container, cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
As for the freezer, wash berries in cold water and pat dry. Blueberries can stay for almost a year in the freezer.
The best way to store dried blueberries is to put them in a cool, dry area and to keep them in a tightly sealed airtight container.
