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Does Kiwi Go Bad?How Long Does It Last?

Does Kiwi Go Bad

If you are a person who buys kiwi in bulk, you may have noticed that sometimes after storing the fruit for several days, it becomes mushy or doesn’t taste so great, and you’ve probably been wondering how long kiwi stays good for or how you can keep it fresh longer. Well, this post’s got all this covered. Check it out.

Does Kiwi Go Bad?

Yes, kiwi does go bad. As with all fresh fruit, kiwi has a relatively short lifespan and will start showing signs of spoilage within just a couple days if not stored correctly. Its shelf life is also dependent on how ripe the fruit is, with extremely ripe kiwi lasting only a few days.

It’s important to note that kiwi is one of those fruits that continue to ripen after they’re picked, meaning, unless you plan to eat the fruit within a few days, you should always go for the underripe. Also, once you have taken your kiwi home, make sure to store it in the refrigerator or freezer; it will help slow down the ripening process.

How Long Does Kiwi Last?

As we have stated above, how long your kiwi stays good for will hugely depend on its ripeness and storage. Underripe kiwi will slowly go ripe at room temperature. Depending on how long it was on display at the grocery store, the ripening process can take anywhere between two and seven days. After it gets ripe, kiwi can stay for an extra week before going bad.

In the refrigerator or freezer, kiwi will last much longer. The cool temperatures will delay the ripening and aging process, enabling the fruit to keep fresh for an extended period.

Unripe kiwi will last about three weeks to a month in the fridge and up to twelve months in the freezer. Once ripe, the fruit will stay good for between two and four weeks in the fridge and about three to five months in the freezer.

The following table further summarizes the shelf life of kiwi so you can have a chance to enjoy the fruit when it’s in its best shape.

Kiwi Lifespan
Room Temperature Refrigerator Freezer
Unripe 2 to 7 days before ripening 3 to 4 weeks Up to 1 year
Ripe 7 days 2 to 4 weeks 3 to 5 months

4 Tips to Tell if Kiwi Has Gone Bad

The signs of a spoiled kiwifruit are no different from those of any other fresh fruit that has gone bad. Below are some things to be on the lookout for:

1.    Mold

Pick up your kiwi and examine it closely. If you see patches of mold, then the fruit is already done for. The mold will likely be brown or green and can cover the whole fruit or just a small area. However, because kiwi is a small fruit, it would be best to just get rid of the moldy ones instead of trying to chop off the affected areas.

2.    Dry Skin or Pulp

Apart from mold, the skin of kiwi that has gone bad may also appear dry and shriveled. The inside may look dull too, with very little juice in the pulp. Depending on how long the fruit has been left in storage, the pulp may be completely dry. Discard such kiwi right away.

3.    Mushy Spots

Check the kiwi for wet areas. If the fruit is spoiled, you will notice parts that are soft and mushy. But you should try to gently squeeze the fruit with your fingers too. If it is very mushy, that is a sign you shouldn’t eat it. Also, if it is very hard, it may likely have gone bad or the fruit was just not ripe when you bought it and needs more time to ripen.

Keep in mind, however, that whether to eat such kiwi or not will depend on how you approach food quality. Some people may find mushy or hard kiwis okay to consume, while others will not want them anywhere near their mouth. Trust your gut to make the best decision for you.

4.    Acidic Smell

Fresh kiwifruit will have a citrusy, light, and sweet smell. If yours gives off an acidic odor, it is definitely not fresh. Sniff both the skin and the pulp to find out if the fruit is good to eat.

4 Tips to Store Kiwi

Kiwi is an expensive fruit, so when you stock up, you want that box to last for as long as possible. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to keep your kiwifruit fresh and tasty for an extended period. Keep reading!

1.    Start By Buying Good Kiwi

The fresh and flawless your kiwi is, the longer it will last. Kiwi that contains cuts, bruises, wrinkles, and other blemishes will go bad prematurely no matter where you store it.

Thus, it is important that you inspect the fruit carefully before you buy it. Avoid kiwi with dark spots, bruises, or that show any signs of damage. You also want to keep away from the wrinkled ones, as such fruit could be indicating moisture loss.

2.    Refrigerate Ripe Kiwi

As mentioned earlier, kiwi will continue to ripen after it has been picked. So unless you plan to eat the fruit within a few days, do not leave it sitting on the kitchen counter. It will ripen fast at room temperature, which will cause it to go bad prematurely.

The best place to store ripe kiwi would be the refrigerator. Here, the aging process is slowed down and the fruit can keep good for an extended period. To help your fruit last even longer, store it in the freezer.

3.    Store Unripe Kiwi Away From Sunlight

Unripe kiwi can be stored at room temperature for up to seven days. However, there are conditions that must be met to ensure that the fruit doesn’t go bad. For example, you should ensure the fruit is placed away from the stove, direct sunlight, or any other heat source. Pick a spot in the pantry or just let your kiwi sit in the fruit basket.

4.    Dehydrate Kiwi for a Longer Lifespan

Dried foods can last for a long, long time because the excess moisture that causes them to spoil quickly is removed. Kiwi is best dried when ripe but still hard; it helps it retain a good texture.

To get started, clean the fruit thoroughly and peel off its skin, making sure to remove the stem scars at the top and bottom of the fruit.

Once done, cut the fruit into small circular pieces, then place the slices on a dehydrator tray in a single layer. Let them dehydrate for six to twelve hours at 130° F, then transfer them into an airtight container.

From here, you can choose whether to store them at room temperature or in the refrigerator. No matter where you store the fruit, you can expect it to last much longer than its fresh counterpart.

For more insights on how to store kiwi, watch this video:

The Risk of Consuming Bad Kiwi

Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness is one of the consequences of eating fruit that has gone bad, and that includes spoiled kiwi. If your kiwi has mold, is rotten, or shows other signs of spoilage, it’s best to just throw it out.

But chances of getting sick from ingesting spoiled kiwi are quite minimal because for starters, the fruit will have such an unpleasant taste and you will likely spit it out as soon as you notice the taste is off.

However, for brave individuals who don’t mind the awful taste, consuming rotten or moldy kiwi in large amounts can get them developing food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. If you start feeling weird after consuming kiwi that has been in storage for a while, see your doctor immediately.

Can You Freeze Kiwi?

The answer is yes. Kiwi can have an exceptionally long shelf life if frozen. An important point to note, however, is that after thawing, the fruit will become soft and mushy, and eating it neat or using it in fruit salad might not be a good idea.

But if you plan on using your defrosted kiwi in smoothies or cooked dishes or you simply don’t mind the mushiness, freezing kiwi is an easy and pretty straightforward process.

Simply peel and dice the fruit and arrange the slices on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil in a single layer. Then, place the kiwi in the freezer for about three hours or until all fruit has frozen solid. Next, transfer the fruit into a freezer bag, then chuck it in the freezer to store it long-term. That’s it!

Summary

Kiwi does go bad, but whether or not this happens prematurely will solely depend on the ripeness of the fruit and how it is stored. Unripe kiwi will be just fine in the pantry but must be refrigerated as soon as it ripens to keep it from going bad. If the fruit starts to rot or get moldy, toss it out.

Resources

  1. How Long Do Kiwis Last and How to Tell if a Kiwi Is Bad?
  2. HOW LONG DOES KIWIFRUIT LAST?
  3. How Long Does Kiwi Last?
  4. How Long Does Kiwi Last? Can It Go Bad?
  5. How To Store Kiwi: The Best Ways You Must Know 2022

 

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