How Long Do Blueberries Last? Shelf Life, Storage, Expiration

How Long Do Blueberries Last? Shelf Life, Storage, Expiration Blueberries look delightful to the eyes, and people often expect them to last for more than one week.

Whether you buy them fresh from a farm or the market, they always need care.

The longevity of this fruit also depends upon where you store them. The bacteria or mold can ruin this beautiful fruit within hours, and it is very important to take care of them in time. And after the blueberries are rotted by mold, you cannot use them again. People often ask questions like how we can freeze blueberries so they last longer. So how long do blueberries last? Let’s explore.

In this article, we have discussed how long these blueberries last and some important tips on how you can store them. We have mentioned some useful ways to store the blueberries, increasing their lifetime.

How Long Do Blueberries Last?

If you’re buying blueberries from a store and maybe there is no expiry date mentioned on the package. In such cases, you can estimate the purchasing date so that you can use them before going bad. It is always advised to buy the blueberries that have written expiry dates.

It is often advised to store the blueberries in a non-humid environment or a room free of moisture. A very useful way of increasing the life of blueberries is to dry them to last for about a year.

Shelf life

The shelf life of blueberries relies on how and where you stock them. The life of frozen blueberries is much higher than blueberries kept at room temperature. The blueberries will last only for limited days if you keep them at moderate temperature. It is best to take the quantity you need to eat or cook; otherwise, keep the blueberries in the refrigerator.

The life of this fruit differs when it is kept in a refrigerator or chiller. If you store it in a refrigerator, blueberries can last for a maximum of ten days, but if you freeze the berries, they can last for about a year. The blueberries will not go bad after a year, but the taste can change.

Storing Blueberries

Blueberries require a proper kind of care and storage method to keep them fresh for a longer time. They can get bruised very fast, and it happens because you keep too many blueberries in a single jar or move them very often. So it is very normal for the blueberries to rot very fast.

Outside the fridge

Leaving the blueberries outside the fridge is highly prohibited as they can go bad as fast as they can. It is advised to take the number of blueberries you need and put the rest in the refrigerator. If it is not the season to put them in the refrigerator you can cover them with aluminum foil. There is also another way to cover them with a wet towel to stay at room temperature to last for a maximum of three days.

In the fridge

If you have purchased fresh blueberries, it is best to keep them in the refrigerator. Saving the blueberries in the fridge can make them last for about one to two weeks.  If you have got the blueberries in a carton, stock them in an airtight jar or a pot wrapped with a cling wrapper.

In the freezer

A freezer is a great idea to keep your blueberries safe for a longer time. Blueberries are available for only a few months per year. Therefore many people try to freeze them as much as possible to use them afterward.

The method to freeze the blueberries is very easy; you have to put the blueberries in a basket and wash them with cold water. You are required to deal with them with extraordinary care because they are very soft and mushy. Dry the excess water with the help of a kitchen towel.

Put them on a cookie tray so that they can dry evenly. The blueberries can freeze in a maximum of 20 minutes, depending upon the temperature of your freezer.

Useful Tips for buying blueberries

Following are the easy tips to buy blueberries that make your stock of blueberries last longer.

Select deep blue color

It is by far the obvious fact to choose the blueberries that are originally deep blue. Please don’t select the green blueberries because they take very long to ripe after they are packed.

Don’t stock in a tight bottle

You should always avoid putting blueberries in a closed bag or container. There is a chance of moisture forming in the container or bag. If you find the amount of moisture, you can leave the container open for a while.

Avoid additives

While having juices or jams, you can find products with plant-based additives. It is stated that these processed and packed blueberries have a limited nutritional importance than natural blueberries. Try to consume natural products so that you can avoid additional additives.

Most of the canned fruits have refined sugar mixed in them. It can influence the nutritional quality of the fruits. It is advised to check the labels of fruits before buying to know the ingredients in them.

Don’t refrigerate blueberries

If you are going to eat the blueberries within one to two days, it is advised to keep them at room temperature. If you want to eat them for about six months, you can freeze them.  Keeping them in the refrigerator can cause mushy and rotten fruits.

Prefer wild blueberries

A reason to choose wild blueberries is they are rich in plot-based nutrients called phytonutrients. These blueberries are much richer in taste and nutrition than regular blueberries.

Dried berries

Dried or frozen blueberries can get you benefits when it’s not their season. Frozen berries are cheaper, and they come in a lot of varieties. It is advised to choose frozen or dried blueberries instead of the packed ones.

Tips to make blueberries last long

Following are the tips for storing blueberries that make them last longer.

• If you want to consume the blueberries on the same day or within two days, you can store them at room temperature.
  
  
•  If you want to put them in the fridge, refrigerate blueberries in a closed plastic cling wrap or airtight container.
  
  
• Discard any rotten or moldy blueberries if you find any before consuming them.
  
  
• It is advised not to wash them until they are ready to eat to extend the life of blueberries.
  
  
• Inspect the fruits basket daily, discard any moldy blueberries before they rote completely.
  
  

How to learn if blueberries are moldy or rotten

Blueberries have a little volume and thickness if you pinch them a little. They become mushy and soft with time, so there are many ways to see if the blueberries have gone bad or not.

• There will be a white or Gray mold on the blueberries, which can cause them to decay faster.
  
  
• The extra soft blueberries will indicate that the fruit is overripe, and you should consume it within time.
  
  
• A certain smell will show that fruit has gone bad, and you should discard it.
  
  
• If the color of blueberries has turned dark purple or dark red, you should throw them away.
  
  
• There will be certain cracks and issues on blueberries’ skin, which shows that they are overripe and should not be used.
  
  
• Some frozen blueberries can also go bad depending upon their taste and texture, so you should inspect them before use.
  
  
• The juice leaking from the berries is a sign that you should not use them anymore.
  

Conclusion

After reading this article, you know all details about how long blueberries last. If stored at room temperature or in a fridge or freezer, you also know their shelf life. By implementing blueberries’ buying and storing tips, you can extend their expiration duration. However, don’t consume the rotten blue barriers and check them thoroughly before consumption to have no bad effects on your health.

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