How Long Does Kiwi Last? Can It Go Bad?
Every kitchen pantry should have kiwi fruit in stock for many good reasons. First, it is overwhelmingly nutritious, easy to handle, and above all, it lasts long. Tracing its roots to China’s great woods, it has been spreading its unmatched health goodness throughout the world for well over seven centuries now.
As we rush to replenish our kitchen stores with this magic fruit, it is crucial to consider its shelf life so that we don’t end up throwing it away.
This brings us to the question, how long does kiwifruit last? A fully ripe kiwifruit can stay fresh for 7 – 8 days when refrigerated. At room temperature, a half-ripen kiwi can last for about five-plus days. A fully ripe kiwi will take 2-3 days at room temperature before it goes bad.
Can Kiwi Fruit Go Bad?
The toughness of its green skin can be deceiving. Just like many other fruit types, Kiwi needs special attention as far as preservation is concerned. For instance, extreme weather conditions such as temperatures above room are great catalysts of its decomposition.
Also, the fruit that was contaminated either through pest attack, skin injury, or was over ripen at the time of purchase; it may go bad sooner than anticipated.
Kiwi fruit can be refrigerated as well as stored at room temperature in a clean, dry place.
How To Store Kiwi
Observing proper storage measures may sound too technical, but on the contrary, it is as easy pixy as pronouncing the name of the fruit itself. These are the simple tips;
Clean and Keep dry. Kiwi is susceptible to bacteria attack. Considering that the fruit goes through a chain of hands between the market and the consumer, the risk of bacterial infection is relatively high.
Its fur-like skin also tends to trap dirt a bit more than a furless fruit would. That makes it necessary to clean and thoroughly minimize bacterial invasion into the fruit if the fruit’s skin has an injury.
While at it, your storage space should also be clean, dry, and away from favorable temperatures. In this case, room temperature is best suited. Any temperatures above normal room temperature could catalyze Kiwi’s ripening process, slashing its shelf life by almost half.
Also, make sure that your area of storage is not subjected to direct sunlight, raising the temperatures and further causing the same effect as described above.
What Does Kiwi Taste Like?
The unusual appearance of the Kiwi fruit usually attracts curiosity about its taste. Well, as you might anticipate, the taste is as unique as its properties. Depending on your taste buds, your first encounter with Kiwi might either leave you craving for more of it or distant. Kiwi has a sweet, wet, fuzzy taste that may leave a stinging effect on your mouth.
The tenderness of the flesh makes it ironic that the fruit could feel like a sting. The reason behind this is the acid amounts found in some of the nutrients in it, e.g., vitamin C. The presence of crystals called raphides also adds to the nasty after-taste.
With regular intake of Kiwi, however, one can acquire the natural good taste of Kiwi.
Can You Refrigerate or Freeze Kiwifruit?
Generally, the kiwi skin’s toughness protects it from the easy transmission of heat into its flesh, making its ripening process slower than most fruits. However, if you have a more extensive stock that you would want to last longer, refrigeration would be a great idea.
Cooling regulates the ripening process. A well-maintained refrigerator should preserve a ripe kiwi for up to a month. However, it may last lesser if placed in the fridge when cut, usually not more than four days.
If you are that person that uses Kiwi only for special meals that you do not prepare regularly, you may want to consider frosting it in a freezer. This method is also ideal when you have an amount of stock that does not match your consumption rate. Here it will last for well over a year, again, depending on whether you observe the appropriate freezing procedures.
How Can I preserve Kiwi after Cutting?
Sometimes you may need Kiwi for simple food applications such a garnishing or flavoring. That may not require you to use the entire fruit, but you cannot let the remaining piece go to waste. The good news is, Kiwi can very well be preserved even after cutting.
The procedure is as simple as peeling off the skin, washing the flesh thoroughly under running water, and then chopping it into smaller pieces. Put the pieces into clean polythene or an airtight container, and then place your precious pack in the fridge.
Maintain an average cooling temperature for longer-lasting.
This will last for 4 to 7 days, depending on how ripe it was when you stored it. Suppose you wish to have your leftover stay for a more extended period. In that case, the preserving procedure is pretty much the same as that of refrigeration, only this time, the pieces are frosted on an open flat surface for about three hours before they are packed in an airtight freezing container or bag and kept in a freezer.
This should stay good for approximately one year or more, depending on the mentioned factors.
What Are The Disadvantages of Storing Kiwi In a Freezer?
The advantage of storing your fruit for an extended period is not without its odds. After a couple of months of kiwi freezing, do not be surprised if your kiwifruit has lost its vibrant appearance as well as stiffness. This may limit the number of its uses to just juicing.
In case you are in haste to serve your kiwi smoothie fresh and chilly, you may be disappointed at the time it will take your juicer to disintegrate the frozen mass.
Your blender/juicer also stands at a high risk of jamming due to the strained blending process caused by the frozen mass pieces. If you have ample time to prepare your kiwi smoothie from frozen kiwi pieces, consider using other means of defrosting then later refrigerating for a chilly taste.
The taste value of your kiwifruit may also go down.
Is Kiwi Prone to diseases?
Kiwifruit has its fair share of predators. Different kiwi-unfriendly circumstances will usually cause different effects on the Kiwi plant. For instance, if the temperature under which it is grown drops to -8 degrees Celsius and below, its growth is bound to retard.
The PH around which the Kiwi plant grows is also a significant factor to consider. Ideally, the PH range under which the soils should fall is 5.5-6.0 for a quality yield. Outside that range, the vine will suffer severe physical damage and a reduced volume of production.
Poorly draining soil will also cause fungal attacks such as Armillaria root rot.
Commonly, bacteria will also find their way into the vine and fruit, causing a disease called Bacteria Blight. This is often occasioned by injury after a cut or an accidental bruise on the vine.
Fortunately, it is easy to identify symptoms caused by each. Usually, the sick vine will display distinctive changes in its appearance. Just a little guidance from a specialist and you can tackle the problems independently during subsequent such occasions.
How Else Can Kiwi be consumed?
Kiwifruit can be prepared in several interesting ways; from garnishing to flavoring and blending tastes in various juices and toppings. Some of the best kiwi refreshments found in fine dine include; fruit pizzas, Kiwi cobblers, and all types of smoothies.
Related Questions
Is Kiwi a Seasonal Fruit?
Kiwi is indeed a seasonal fruit. For most Kiwi producing countries, the harvest and fall season is determined by the seasonality in their respective places. Even so, the market never really runs out of stock as the large scale producers of the Kiwi usually have equipped themselves with good preservation measures.
Is Kiwi Fruit’s Skin Edible?
Kiwifruit is made up of fuzzy translucent skin, bright green flesh, a white core, and speckled black seeds. Interestingly, every one of these parts, including its skin, is edible and carries with it essential nutrients. Such include vitamin E, folate, and lots of fiber, all present in sufficient amounts.
However, the skin is not every consumer’s favorite. The turf nature of it often presents an unpleasant feeling in the mouth. But that should not make you miss out on all these valuable properties, right? One of the most common hacks used to counter the unpleasant mouthfeel is scrapping its brown fur with clean kitchen scrapping tools, e.g., a vegetable brush.
Is Too Much consumption of Kiwi Harmful?
How much is enough Kiwi? The discovery of the long list of kiwifruit benefits may strike an excitement, especially for people with certain health conditions that the fruit suits. This may, therefore, prompt a desire for overconsumption. This is not advisable. The recommended measure of kiwi intake is 2-3 fruits per day.
Add kiwifruit to your list of favorite fruits and spare yourself from an annoying heavy dose of drugs in the future!
