Kiwifruit, or kiwi, is a large berry that tastes sweet and tart at the same time when it’s ripe.
Oval-shaped kiwis with fuzzy brown skin are among the most common types of kiwis.
Grocery store kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) kiwis have bright green insides with edible black seeds.
While golden kiwis have pale yellow interiors with black seeds.
Wondering what to do with these strange-looking fruits? Where should these be kept—at room temperature, or do kiwis need to be refrigerated?
Whether or not they should be kept in an airtight container is a question that must be answered.
Don’t be shy about your questions about kiwi storage! When it comes to storage, kiwis are just as enigmatic as they appear.
If you want to add some color and flavor to your fruit salad or smoothie, then kiwis are the fruit for you.
You can also use kiwi in desserts like pies, ice cream, and cakes.
And as soon as you get back home from the farmer’s market, you probably can’t resist eating all of the kiwis that looked so tasty.
We’ll show you how to tell if a kiwi fruit is ripe, how to store kiwi, and how to keep them fresh.
How to pick out kiwi
If you’re planning to pick out kiwi at the grocery store or farmer’s market, try these tips on how to pick out kiwi.
Here are three key factors to think about when purchasing fresh kiwi from a grocery store or farmers’ market:
Appearance
Buying fresh and ripe kiwi can be challenging, especially when you’re just new to the fruit. But it’s advisable to pick out kiwi fruits with brown and fuzzy skin.
Wrinkly skin on kiwis indicates that it has lost water, which reduces its taste and nutritional value.
Also, you need to look for those with a rough surface with no signs of bruises and dark spots, as these are indications of bad kiwi.
Smell
When you’re picking out kiwi, the next thing to do is go over the stalk and take a sniff. If the kiwi smells sweet and fruity, then it’s fresh. If it doesn’t give off any smell, it’s probably unripe.
Feel
You should check the kiwi’s skin to make sure it’s firm, slightly fuzzy, without blemishes.
Since fresh and ripe kiwis are often plump and soft, this fact means that a hard kiwi is most likely unripe.
Pro tip: Since it’s impossible to touch or feel kiwis that are sold in a clamshell, the best way to pick kiwis is to take a look at their appearance. Only choose kiwis with unblemished skin and don’t have any dark spots in it.
How to tell if kiwi is ripe
Kiwis are surprisingly complex for such a small fruit, and determining when a kiwi is ripe can be difficult.
Among the reasons for this is that, unlike other fruits like bananas, the skin of a kiwi does not turn a bright yellow when ripe and darkens as it begins to spoil.
Choose kiwis that are ripe and ready to eat when you want to use them so that you can quickly determine when you plan on using them.
Avoid overripe and soft kiwis, as they will go bad quickly if you keep the kiwis in the fridge.
Do a visual inspection
When doing a visual inspection on your kiwi, the first thing you should do is to check if the kiwi is blemish-free and don’t have any discoloration.
Check its smell
Avoid kiwis that don’t give off any smell because it means it is unripe. Ripe kiwis have a distinctive juicy smell, which you can easily note once you sniff it.
Conduct a taste test
The best way to determine whether your kiwi is ripe or not is to cut it in half and have a taste of it. If the kiwi tastes sweet, then it’s ripe.
How to ripen kiwi?
It is possible to ripen kiwi even if the fruit you bought is still hard. A simple way to speed up the ripening process is to keep your kiwi fruit from the refrigerator.
- Put your kiwi in a brown paper or plastic bag with an apple or a banana, and seal it in the refrigerator.
- To make the ripening process quicker, you can also place the kiwi next to apples and bananas, which produce ethylene gas, a ripening hormone found in plants.
- Putting kiwi in a bowl of rice is another method that some people swear by for reducing ethylene emissions.
- Give your kiwi one last squeeze before cutting into it to make sure it’s ready to eat.
How long does kiwi last?
When it comes to fruit storage times, location and ripeness play a major role.
An under-ripe kiwi can ripen for up to a week at room temperature. It’s all a matter of how long the supermarket kept it.
At room temperature, it can keep for several days once it’s ripe (if left alone) and for up to four weeks in the refrigerator.
As a result, kiwis can be stored without going bad in the refrigerator for a long time, so you don’t have to worry about running out of them.
It’s important to remember that refrigerating an overripe kiwi fruit won’t do much good.
The damage has already been done, even if the low temperature slows down further decay.
Either eat it immediately (if it’s still edible) or throw it away.
How to store kiwi
I bet you’re thinking about where to store kiwis and to answer this question, ripe, whole kiwis or any cut/sliced kiwis should be kept in the refrigerator.
While unripe kiwis can be left out on a kitchen counter until ready to use.
When storing it on a counter, keep an unripe kiwi at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.
Your kiwi will undergo its ripening process in a few days, and be ready to eat.
The refrigerator is the best place to keep already-ripe kiwi away from other ethylene-producing fruits such as tomatoes and avocado.
Since there would be an increased risk of early spoilage due to the use of the ethylene gas, on the other hand, sliced kiwis can be kept in the fridge for up to two days if sealed in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag.
Can you store kiwi in the fridge?
Yes, keeping kiwi in the refrigerator is possible.
On the other hand, refrigeration extends the shelf life of kiwis, especially if they are still unripe.
Fridges can keep fruit fresh for up to four weeks longer than rooms with higher temperatures.
Kiwis that have been refrigerated before being used within 5-7 days will have a sweeter flavor and more juice, so wait until they are fully ripe before doing this.
Can you freeze kiwi?
Yes, you can definitely freeze kiwi.
However, keep in mind that you shouldn’t place the whole fruit directly in the freezer.
Freezing destroys the fruit’s cell walls, so when you pull it out to thaw, the fruit will be mushy and hard to cut and peel.
Instead, cut your kiwi into multiple pieces prior to freezing.
Ready your baking tray where you’ll place the kiwi slices, then move them to the freezer.
Take note that the freezing process may take around 4 hours or more.
That’s why only take them out of the freezer once they’re firm.
The frozen kiwi can then be transferred to a freezer-safe bag later on.
Pro-tip: Use an airtight container in the freezer to reduce the amount of air around the fruit.
How to store sliced kiwi
Refrigeration is a must if you want to keep kiwis that have already been cut or sliced.
Unlike many other fruits like apples and peaches, kiwi does not oxidize, so your kiwi will stay bright green for as long as you keep it!
Kiwi softens and decomposes as it ripens and ages, and this process accelerates when it is exposed to the elements of the environment.
As a result, you should store sliced or chunked kiwi in the refrigerator in an airtight bag or container for up to three days because sliced kiwi will deteriorate if it isn’t stored properly.
The bottom line
To figure out the best way of kiwi storage, the first step is to determine whether the fruit is ripe or not.
You can store your chopped kiwis for up to 3-4 days if kept cold the whole time or frozen for an even longer time if they are ripe and ready to eat.
Kiwis can be stored in ways that will delay the ripening process and thus extend their shelf life.
Such as by using the help of other ethylene-producing fruits, or they can be stored in a way that will allow them to remain fresher for longer.
Isn’t it obvious that the best way to enjoy those juicy and sweet kiwis is to grab your spoon and start scooping, and leave nothing behind!
Enjoy!
