| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw | - | 7-14 Days | 12 Months |
Shelf Life of Kiwifruit:
Kiwis are rich in vitamin C, but at the same time, they are also quite delicate. You can maintain its juicy and tangy consistency by selecting the proper fruit and storing it properly; the preparation is done before storing the fruit also plays an important role in the shelf life. A kiwi that has ripened cannot last for more than four weeks in the refrigerator. Kiwifruits that have not ripened completely can be stored at a temperature of 18 degrees centigrade to 21 degrees centigrade for eight weeks. Under-ripe kiwis can be stored in the freezer for up to 10 months.
Purchasing Kiwifruit:
Before purchasing kiwifruit from the market, you should keep a few things in mind. If you want to enjoy your fruit readily, then it is better to get a perfectly ripe kiwi, as ripe kiwis are very juicy and have a perfect, tangy flavor. Look for fruits that have no bruises, and keep in mind that the skin of the fruit should not be rough.
To see if the fruit is ripe enough, hold it in your hands and gently press. If it does not feel firm like a tennis ball, it’s ripe, but if it is firm, it is not ripe.
The type of fruit you should purchase, depends on your needs. If you want to store your kiwifruit for some time, it is better to get an under-ripe fruit so that during the storage process, it does not decay.
Storing Kiwifruit:
If you store kiwi properly with the correct preparation, it can have a longer shelf life before decaying. There are a few things you should know before storing kiwi. If you store it with ethylene-producing fruits like apples and bananas, then the ripening process of the fruit will speed up, and by the time you get it out of storage, it will be all mushy. As mentioned above, a ripe kiwi will stay good in the refrigerator for four weeks. Thus, if you want to store ripe fruit, leave it on the counter for 24 hours, and then store it in a plastic bag. Storing the ripened fruit in the freezer is not recommended, as the fruit loses its consistency.
How to Handle Kiwifruit:
Kiwifruit is not very difficult to handle. There are just a few things that you should do before using kiwi for cooking. If you have an extra ripe kiwi, it is not necessary to throw it away. There is a simple way to use it. Cut the kiwi into two parts and scoop out all the pulp, along with the seeds. Now, you can use it for dressing your cake or making a smoothie.
Apart from this, it is necessary to wash the fruit before eating it, and also to peel the skin away. Its skin is not edible. A normal, perfectly ripe kiwi can be sliced and used in dishes.
If you have an under-ripe kiwi, before using it for preparing any dish put it in a plastic bag with a green banana or apple; the ethylene will help it ripen faster.
Cooking with Kiwifruit:
Kiwifruit is not cooked, but rather is put into cakes, salads, and fruit smoothies. The kiwi-strawberry smoothie is the most famous smoothie, as the combination of kiwis and strawberries is simply mouthwatering; these two fruits complement each other a lot.
You can also make a fresh fruit flan using kiwis and strawberries. It is basically a fruit pie. The base is made of pie crust or tart crust, and the top is filled with kiwis and strawberries. Also, the kiwi, strawberry, and spinach salad are one of the tastiest salads.