What is the average shelf life of a cranberry? How long do cranberries last in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer? What is the best way to store cranberries to increase their shelf life? Find out the answers to these questions and more below:
Shelf Life of Cranberries
| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw | - | 2-3 Weeks | 9-12 Months |
| Dried | 9-12 Months | 9-12 Months | 12-24 Months |
What Is The Shelf Life Of Cranberries?
The Cranberries are rich in Vitamin C. It helps people to cure and prevent the urinary tract infections. Most of the type of cranberries are produced in Wisconsin. However, only 5% of them are fresh while the rest is used for the formation of juice, sauce or in dried form.
The cranberry sauce lasts for around 1-2 years beyond the date mentioned above the can. The shelf life of cranberry sauce depends on multiple factors which include the best by time, the method how the cranberry sauce is stored and the preparation method.
If the fresh cranberries are unopened, they last in the pantry for 3-4 days, in the fridge for one month and the freezer for one year. When the canned cranberry sauce is unopened, it lasts for 1-2 years in the pantry, for around 1-2 years in the fridge and no identified date is mentioned if stored in the freezer.
The cranberry juice if unopened, lasts in the pantry and fridge for 6-9 months. The cranberry juice lasts for around 9-12 months in the freezer. If the canned cranberry sauce is open, it lasts for best before the date in the pantry, 7-10 days in the fridge and for one month in the freezer.
The fresh or homemade cranberry sauce lasts for 7-10 days in the fridge and one month in the freezer. The dried cranberries if opened last for 2-4 years in the pantry and fridge. The dried cranberries last for an indefinite period in the freezer.
How to Store Cranberries?
You can store cranberries in the pantry under the temperature less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit for making them stay fresh for longer. Once the can of cranberry sauce is opened and you have leftovers, remove the remaining cranberries from the box and store it in an airtight container placing it in the refrigerator.
The fresh cranberries can be placed in a sealed bag and freeze them for a year. However, the frozen cranberries are not recommended for cranberry sauce as it results in a watery sauce.
What Should You expect While Buying The Cranberries?
The fresh cranberries are plump and shiny with a deep red color. Keep in mind that more vibrant the color is the more concentration of beneficial compounds are present in the cranberries. The fresh cranberries are firm on touch and bounce back if you drop them. Avoid buying cranberries which are shriveled and have brown spots.
The fresh cranberries are tightly packed in a 12-ounce bag. However, organic berries are packed in pint containers. The 12-ounce bag of cranberries yields around 3 cups of whole cranberries or chopped cranberries around 2-2 ½ cups.
You need to check the top of the cranberry can if you opt for cranberry sauce. If the shape is flat rather than round and dome, then the sauce is terrible. If you want to buy cranberries in the off-season, then choose the ones which are frozen, dries and canned.
How to Handle Cranberries?
Put the frozen berries in cooking recipes without thawing them. If you melt the cranberries, they become soft, and you need to use them immediately. Wash and dry the fresh cranberries before use and transfer them to an airtight container.
How to Cook With Cranberries?
The most favorite recipe using cranberries is the cranberry sauce. You need to wash them as mentioned above and mix it with water and ½ cup orange juice, bringing it to boil. In the boiling water, add sugar and then add cranberries to this mixture. Boil them for 10 minutes, and your sauce is ready to be served.