Kiwis are one of the most delicious and flavorful fruits. With a sweet yet sharp taste, kiwis can be served as a healthy snack, or as part of a wonderful dessert.
Kiwis also offer a range of benefits and are incredibly healthy, and critical to this is how to keep kiwis fresh.
For instance, kiwis can help maintain a healthy blood pressure as they provide a lot of Vitamin C, along with reducing the risk of a stroke and heart disease.
In addition, kiwi has a high level of dietary fiber, which helps to reduce the risk factors for heart disease and bad cholesterol [1].
Due to this, many health experts maintain that you should try to eat a kiwi a day. So, if you are stocking up on kiwis to ensure that you get all of your nutrients and vitamins [2], then you will need to know how to store them properly.
In this guide, we will cover how to keep your kiwis fresh, and how to store them to maintain them for longer. Read on to find out!
Table of Contents
How To Store Kiwi
If you go to anyone’s home, you will notice that we all do something a little different with our fruit. Some people prefer to keep fruit in fruit bowls, others put their fruit in the refrigerator, some leave fruit out on the counter.
So, which is best to do?
Well, for the most part, unripe kiwi fruit should be left at room temperature in order for it to ripen and be ready for eating. Once the fruit is ripe, it is best to place it in a resealable bag, and keep it in the refrigerator.
If you have sliced kiwi fruit, then this should also go in an airtight container or bag, and be placed in the refrigerator in order to maintain freshness.
When you purchase kiwi fruit from a store, it is more than likely unripe. Kiwis are picked before the ripening process begins, as they do ripen rather quickly.
So, they are picked early because they need to be transported and taken to the stores ready for selling.
Therefore, when you buy kiwis, it may be worth leaving them on the counter at room temperature for a day, to ensure that they will be ready to eat when wanted.
How To Keep Kiwi Fresher For Longer
Most will maintain that unripe kiwi and ripened kiwi fruit should be kept at 32-25 degrees fahrenheit [3]. This will help it ripen, and can be kept in a paper bag for around 2 days, away from heat and direct sunlight.
This is because heat can penetrate the thin skin, and make it easier for bacteria to grow, and the kiwi may go off more quickly. Once the kiwi fruit is ripe, and it is a little soft to the touch, then you should refrigerate it until it is ready for use.
We would argue that if you want to keep your kiwi fruit fresher for longer, then you will need to place it in the refrigerator as soon as you bring it home.
This should slow down the ripening process, and you can enjoy the kiwi fruit in around 5 days.
When refrigerated, kiwi fruits should last around 5-7 days, but you should check it regularly to see if it has gone bad or become overripe.
Do Kiwis Go Bad In The Fridge?
Ripe kiwis will last for around 5 days in the refrigerator. Placing kiwis in the refrigerator does not make them go bad, as it slows down the ripening process.
However, it cannot maintain them forever. After around 5-7 days, depending on the ripeness when purchased, kiwis will start to go off and go bad.
If you are unsure if your kiwi fruit has gone bad, then there are a few warning signs. For instance, if the kiwi has mold, has an unpleasant smell, or is very soft and bruised, then it has probably gone bad.
You can also cut open the kiwi, and place your finger on the pulp of the kiwi fruit. If this part is soft to the touch, and seems juicy, then it is fine to eat.
If this part has become very dry, then it may have gone bad.
How To Tell If Kiwi Is Ripe
As kiwis do ripen and go off quickly, it is important that you choose wisely when purchasing the fruits. In the store, look for some that are firm and rather hard, as this means that they are unripe.
You can tell if your kiwi fruit is ready to eat if you hold the kiwi in the palm of your hand. Gently apply some pressure, and press down on the fruit.
If it yields, or gives a little, then it is ripe, and at the perfect time to eat.
If it is very hard, then the kiwi is not ready to eat, nor is it ripe. If it is very soft and mushy, then the kiwi may be bruised, or it may have become overripe.
How To Stop Kiwis From Ripening Too Quickly
The best way to stop kiwis from ripening too quickly, and going bad is to store them in the refrigerator right away. This slows down the ripening process.
You should also keep kiwi fruits away from other fruits, as some fruits such as apples, bananas, and pears can release ethylene gas.
Ethylene gas is a vital plant hormone found in many fruits, which surges when the fruit is ready to ripen.
This gas can be emitted, and will ripen the fruit more quickly. That being said, if you do want to ripen your kiwi fruits quickly, because you want to enjoy them sooner, then place the kiwis in a fruit bowl mixed in with these fruits.
Then, check your kiwis regularly, as the ethylene gas will ripen them at a very fast pace.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you’re like me, you love to grab a Kiwi as a quick snack throughout the day. But have you ever noticed that your Kiwis start to go bad after a few days?
It’s a bummer, I know. That’s why I’ve put together a list of FAQs on how to keep Kiwis fresh for longer.
Q: Can I freeze my Kiwis?
A: Yes! Kiwis can be frozen whole or sliced. Just be sure to remove the skin before freezing. Frozen Kiwis are great for smoothies or as a frozen snack.
Q: Can I eat the skin of a Kiwi?
A: Absolutely! The skin of a Kiwi is completely edible and contains extra fiber. However, some people prefer to peel their Kiwis, which is totally fine too.
Q: Can I ripen my Kiwis faster?
A: Yes! If your Kiwis are still too firm, you can place them in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana. These fruits give off ethylene gas which will speed up the ripening process of your Kiwis.
I hope these FAQs have been helpful in keeping your Kiwis fresh for longer. Happy snacking!
Final Thoughts
The best way to keep kiwis fresh is to place them in a resealable bag or an airtight container, and place them inside of the refrigerator.
This should maintain their freshness for longer, and they can be stored for around 5-7 days.
A popular Kiwi variety is the Zespri Organic Kiwis which can be purchased online or at your favourite fruit and vegetable store.
Further Recommendations:
- Do Strawberries grow on trees?
- Golden Kiwi vs Green Kiwi – which is the best?
- The ultimate guide to growing Serrano Peppers in pots
- How to grow mushrooms in Georgia
- Can Dogs Eat Kiwi Fruit?
Video: Kiwifruit 101 – selecting and Sorting Kiwis
Reference List:
- National Library of Medicine – The nutritional and health attributes of Kiwifruit: a review
- WebMD – Health benefits of Kiwi
- Californian Department of Education – Kiwi Fruit Food Distribution (Temperature Ripened Kiwis should be kept at)
