You can leave blueberries at room temperature if you plan to eat them in the next day or so, but after that you should transfer them to the fridge—they can stay there for five to 10 days. Of course, you can freeze them if you want to keep them longer than that.
If you're storing blueberries in the refrigerator, don't wash your blueberries until you are ready to eat them or cook with them. That's because any excess moisture from washing can cause them to go bad more quickly in the fridge. You will, however, want to rinse and dry blueberries before freezing them.
It is best to store your blueberries in the fridge and wash just prior to eating. Berries are delicate and very perishable. If you wash them first and plan to store them for a long period of time in the refrigerator they can start to break down faster. Blueberries should last a week and a half or more!
If you leave ripe blueberries on the kitchen counter at room temperature, they will only last for a day or two before spoiling. It is best to keep them refrigerated. The best place to store blueberries is in the fridge where the shelf life of blueberries is about 2 weeks if properly stored.
Throw out any fruit or vegetables that are spoiled or that are left out at room temperature for more than two hours after they have been peeled or cut.
You can leave blueberries at room temperature if you plan to eat them in the next day or so, but after that you should transfer them to the fridge—they can stay there for five to 10 days. Of course, you can freeze them if you want to keep them longer than that. Frozen blueberries will last about six months.
Fresh berries from your local farm taste amazing at room temperature so it's the sooner the better for munching. For long-term storage keep them in the fridge. To avoid soggy or moldy berries, rinse just before eating. Allow peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums to ripen at room temperature.
One of the cardinal rules of keeping berries mold-free is to leave them unwashed until the moment before consumption. But, by washing your berries in a solution of vinegar and water, you can extend their shelf-life by days (sometimes even weeks!).
Store unwashed berries in a single layer—such as in a short, wide storage container—to keep the fruit from getting crushed. Line the container with paper towels to absorb excess moisture, then loosely cover. (A tight lid traps gases that will accelerate ripening.)
"We recommend washing produce just prior to consumption," Melendez says. "Washing produce and then putting it in the fridge can shorten shelf life due to increased moisture levels." Waiting keeps berries fresher!
Do You Have to Wash Blueberries? Yes! Blueberries (as well as other types of fruits and berries) need to be washed to rid them of bacteria, dirt, small bugs and pesticides. Normally, we would advise not to wash berries until you're ready to eat them, to avoid the extra moisture that causes spoilage.
You can tell that blueberries are bad when they have become too mushy, the skins have split and are leaking juiced, have become dry and shriveled, or have mold growing on them. If you see any signs of mold or spoilage, it's best to throw the entire package out.
Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water—even if you do not plan to eat the peel. Germs on the peel or skin can get inside fruits and vegetables when you cut them. Washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash is not recommended.
Putting washed fruit in the fridge adds excess moisture, which speeds up fruit's decay. And decay means throwing it in the garbage, which is a waste of money and food. Instead, store properly dried fruit in the fridge and wash it when you're ready to eat.
Wash berries when you're ready to eat them.
If you wash them and then stick them in the refrigerator, they could get moldy or mushy.
Don't crowd your berries when storing
Then cover the container with a loose-fitting lid to let excess moisture (a breeding ground for bacteria) escape. You don't want to use airtight containers here.
He suggests placing the berries in a paper towel-lined salad spinner to get them super dry, as moisture is the biggest contributing factor to berry spoilage. He also recommends leaving the lid on the storage container slightly cracked to allow any moisture to evaporate.
Put the clean, dry berries back in the clamshell and store them in the fridge. Make sure to leave ventilation holes in the top uncovered so air can circulate in the package. Otherwise, store the berries in a clean container lined with paper towels, with the lid ajar so condensation can evaporate.
Just remember to rinse the berries before using them. Commercially frozen blueberries have been washed—use them directly from the bag.
Fruits and Vegetables
To help prevent food poisoning, do not eat unwashed fresh produce. Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water—even if you do not plan to eat the peel. Germs on the peel or skin can get inside fruits and vegetables when you cut them.
Fresh blueberries should last about 5-10 days in the fridge if stored properly. The length that blueberries will last may vary depending on what condition you received them in and how old they were when you got the blueberries.
Berries can last in the fridge for about a week. It's a good idea to eat as soon as possible so they don't spoil. Plastic bags with tiny vents (openings) help keep fruit fresh longer by releasing moisture. They are great for grapes, blueberries, cherries or strawberries.
To try this editor-approved strategy, combine 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water (for example, ¼ cup vinegar plus 1 cup water) in a pitcher or bowl, then soak the berries in the vinegar water for about 5 minutes. After that, rinse thoroughly with plain water.