We all know that we should be incorporating fruit into our diets as much as possible, but it can be challenging to get fruit at the right degree of ripeness to be enjoyable. If you have bought ripen-at-home fruit, you might be wondering if you can put it in the fridge, or if it needs to live on the counter.
The answer will depend on the kind of fruit you have bought. Some kinds of fruits will ripen in the fridge (albeit slowly), but others may be damaged by the cold, and should never be put in the fridge. Bananas, for example, will turn black on the outside if they are exposed to cold temperatures. The texture of many fruits will be changed by being kept in the fridge.
We’re going to use this article to figure out more about which kinds of fruits can be stored in the fridge, and which should be kept at room temperature.
Does Being Kept Cold Slow Down The Ripening Process?
Before we go into which specific fruits should be kept in which conditions, let’s look at the more general act of storing fruit in the fridge. You should be aware that most kinds of fruit will ripen more slowly if you chill them. Fruits, as a rule, need warmth to ripen, so putting them in the fridge keeps them unripe for longer.
This can be a benefit if you want them to keep well, but being chilled can also alter the texture and the taste of the fruit – and in some cases, its appearance. You should always check whether a specific kind of fruit can be chilled before you put it in the fridge, or you risk ruining it. If you want your fruit to ripen quickly, it’s better to keep it at room temperature.
Many fruits are better if they are stored at room temperature. They will ripen faster, and they will have a nicer taste and texture. These fruits include:
- Bananas
- Tomatoes
- Pineapples
- Melons
All of these can be damaged by cold temperatures, and you may see browning or blackening on the fruit as a result. This occurs when the walls of the cells have been damaged, and chemical reactions have taken place.
Which Fruits Can Be Refrigerated?
Quite a lot of fruits can be refrigerated, and this is a great way to slow down the ripening process if you don’t want them to ripen too fast. If, for example, you have a bag of apples that are not yet ripe, you can leave a couple on the counter to ripen for consumption in the next few days, and put the rest in the fridge.
They will ripen more gradually, and you’ll therefore have longer to eat them. This is a great way to minimize food waste. Fruits that you safely can put in the fridge include:
- Apples
- Berries
- Grapes
- Kiwis
- Lemons
- Limes
- Mangoes
- Cherries
- Pineapples
- Watermelons
Some of these, such as grapes, are best put in the fridge as soon as you get them home. They will already be ripe, however, so this is more about keeping them fresh than getting them to ripen.
For fruits like kiwis, you can massively extend their shelf-life by keeping them in the fridge. However, if you put an unripe kiwi in the fridge, you should be aware that it will probably be several weeks before it ripens enough for you to eat it, because the fridge slows the ripening process down significantly.
Do Fridge-Ripened Fruits Taste Good?
For example, tomatoes lose a lot of flavor when they are refrigerated, and may become mushier. This is one of the reasons that store-bought tomatoes are often less enjoyable than home-grown ones.
Again, this depends upon the fruit, but being chilled does spoil the flavor and texture of some fruits. It can convert sugars into starches, making the fruit less enjoyable.
Similarly, some fruits will undergo texture changes if they are chilled. You can chill an apricot and it will keep for longer, but it will become mushier and the flavor will not be as rich.
You should therefore choose which fruits to refrigerate with care. Things like apples won’t be affected much by the cooler temperatures, but many fruits that are native to warm climates are damaged by being chilled. Try to keep them at room temperature and use them up before they get overripe.
Conclusion
Although you can ripen some fruits in the fridge, many fruits will be affected by the cold and will suffer taste and textural changes as a result. On the other hand, some fruits (like berries) need to be refrigerated to keep them fresh. It’s a good idea to check the specific storage requirements for any fruit you’re dealing with, so you know where to put it.
