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Form One
Storage of fruits
Fruits are perishable produce. Thus, they should be stored well to avoid spoilage.
Appropriate fruit storage prevents contamination and nutrient loss. Store fruits
carefully to avoid crushing or bruising to prevent them from spoilage. Fresh fruits
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should be stored in a clean, cool and well-ventilated place. Do not keep fruits
in very hot or cold places to increase their shelf life. Moreover, do not pile up
fruits, since they will produce ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process and
causes spoilage. Soft fruits are also best kept in the refrigerator as they deteriorate
rapidly in warm conditions. When storing fruits in the refrigerator, pack them in
polythene bags to reduce dehydration and prevent other foods from absorbing their
fl avour. Furthermore, do not store bananas in the refrigerator, because they will turn
black. If you do not have a refrigerator, do not store ripe fruits for more than two
days, depending on their variety; mould, yeast and oxidation will spoil them. Table
4.1 shows the recommended fruit storage time in the refrigerator for selected fruits.
Table: Recommended fruit storage time in the refrigerator
Name of the fruit Storage time
Apples 3–4 weeks
Peaches (ripe) 3–4 days
Avocado (ripe) 2–3 days
Grapefruit 1–2 weeks
Cherries 4– 7 days
Grapes 3–4 days
Mango (ripe) 5–7 days
Oranges 1–2 weeks
Blueberries 1–2 weeks
Guava 3–4 days
Pineapple 3–5 days
Plums 3–5 days
Apricots 4–5 days
Pear 5–7 days
Melons 7–10 days
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