How to Store Your Favorite Fruits

If you don't buy fruits because you don't know how to store them, and because they go bad quickly once you do, you're just going to have to find another excuse after reading this column.

Apples: Placed in plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper, apples can keep for up to six weeks.

Apricots: Store slightly underripe apricots in a paper bag at room temperature. Once ripe, keep them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a day or two at most.

Bananas: Don't refrigerate underripe bananas, because they'll never get any riper. Once they get to the right stage, you can put them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Berries: Fresh, firm blueberries can probably last 10 days; cranberries will probably keep for two weeks; but raspberries should be eaten within a day of purchase.

Cherries: Store your cherries in plastic bags in the refrigerator. They should last about a week.

Grapefruit: If you're going to use grapefruit within a week, they can be kept at room temperature. Store them in the refrigerator crisper, and they'll last for six to eight weeks.

Grapes: Store them in the refrigerator, where they'll keep for about a week.

Kiwi: If they're firm when you get them home, let them sit at room temperature for several days. They'll keep for a week or two in the refrigerator once ripe.

Lemons and limes: Lemons will keep for about two weeks at room temperature. Limes need to be refrigerated immediately. Store them in plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper, and they'll keep for up to six weeks.

Mangoes: Mangoes soften and sweeten best at cool room temperature. Once the fruits are ripe, they'll keep in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for two or three days.

Melons: Uncut melons will get softer and juicier if left at room temperature for a couple of days. Once ripe or cut, they should be refrigerated and used within a day or two.

Nectarines: To ripen a nectarine, let it stay at room temperature for two to three days in a loosely closed paper bag. Once ripe, it will stay good for three to five days in the crisper.

Oranges: They'll keep for a week or two in the refrigerator, and for almost as long at room temperature.

Papayas: Ripe papayas will keep for up to a week in plastic bags in the refrigerator.

Peaches: Firm peaches will soften after a few days at room temperature. Ripe peaches should be stored in the crisper, but they'll only keep for three to five days.

Pears: Pears can be kept in cold storage until you're ready to ripen them. Then you can let them ripen at room temperature.

Pineapples: A pineapple will get softer and juicier if you leave it at room temperature for a day or two before you eat it. Once ripe, it can be stored for three to five days in the refrigerator.

Plums: Ripe plums can be refrigerated for up to three days. If they're not ripe when you get them home, put a few in a paper bag and leave them at room temperature for a day or two.

©2001, Sheldon Margen, M.D., and Dale A. Ogar, Los Angeles Times Syndicate