How long does Produce keep?
Raw fruits are safe at room temperature, but after ripening, will mold and rot
quickly. For best quality, store ripe fruit in the refrigerator or prepare and freeze.
This chart assumes that you are buying your fruit in a retail store. Shelve life will
increase dramatically if you are able to buy your produce directly from the source. For
example, assuming you have the proper storage area and are able to buy your apples during
harvest, than they will easily last for 6 month or longer.
Fruit
Shelf
Refrigerator
Freezer
Apples
1-2 days
3 weeks
Cooked, 8 month
Apricots
Until ripe
2-3 days
Halves, 8 month
Avocados
Until ripe
3-4 days
No
Bananas
Until ripe
2 days, skin
will blacken
whole peeled, 1 month
Berries, cherries
No
1-2 days
4 months
Citrus fruit
10 days
1-2 weeks
No
Coconuts, fruits
1 week
2-3 weeks
Shredded, 6 months
Grapes
1 day
1 week
Whole, 1 mo.
Kiwi fruit
Until ripe
3-4 days
No
Melons
1-2 days
3-4 days
Balls, 1 mo.
Papaya, mango
3-5 days
1 week
Sliced, 8 months
Peaches, nectarines
Until ripe
3-4 days
Sliced, 8 months
Pears
3-5 days
3-4 days
No
Plums
3-5 days
3-4 days
Halves, 8 month
Vegetable
Shelf
Raw, refrigerated
Blanched, cooked or frozen
Artichokes, whole
1-2 days
1-2 weeks
No
Asparagus
No
3-4 days
8 months
Beans, green
or wax
No
3-4 days
8 months
Beets
1 day
7-10 days
6-8 months
Cabbage
No
1-2 weeks
10-12 months
Carrots, parsnips
No
2 weeks
10-12 months
Celery
No
1-2 weeks
10-12 months
Cucumbers
No
4-5 days
No
Eggplant
1 day
3-4 days
6-8 months
Garlic,
ginger root
2 days
1-2 weeks
1 month
Greens
No
1-2 days
10-12 months
Herbs, fresh
No
7-10 days
1-2 months
Leeks
No
1-2 weeks
10-12 months
Lettuce, iceberg
No
1-2 weeks
No
Lettuce, leaf
No
3-7 days
No
Mushrooms
No
2-3 days
10-12 months
Okra
No
2-3 days
10-12 months
Onions, dry
2-3 weeks
2 months
10-12 months
Spring or green
No
1-2 weeks
Peppers, bell
or chili
No
4-5 days
6-8 months
Potatoes
1-2 months
1-2 weeks
Cooked and mashed,
10-12 months
Rutabagas
1 week
2 weeks
8-10 months
Spinach
No
1-2 days
10-12 months
Squash, summer
No
4-5 days
10-12 months
Winter
1 week
2 weeks
Turnips
No
2 weeks
8-10 months
Tomatoes
Until ripe
2-3 days
2 months
Storage: main - baked - dry - frozen - produce - refrigerated