How to Select and Store Delicious Summer Fruit

Food Love: Summer
How to Select and Store Delicious Summer Fruit

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May 24 2021

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Summer is peak season for melons, berries, and stone fruits, which makes it the best opportunity to try new fruits or pick up a seasonal favorite for healthy snacks and juicy, mouthwatering desserts. Find the highest quality produce at Hy-Vee, no matter what you crave. Here's how to select and store the best summer fruit!

Wanting to learn more about summer fruits? Check out our Summer Produce Guide for more recipes, tips, tricks, and videos.

  1. Apricots

    Flavor: Tart, tangy, slightly sweet

    Choose: Fruit with no green color, strong fruity smell, gives slightly to gentle pressure when held in palm of hand

    Store: At room temp up to 5 days

  2. Blackberries

    Flavor: Sweet and slightly tart

    Choose: Glossy, uncrushed fruit with deep color

    Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 3 days

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  3. Blueberries

    Flavor: Slightly sweet and acidic

    Choose: Uncrushed fruit with silvery coating and no read color

    Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 2 weeks

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  4. Cantaloupe

    Flavor: Sweet, tender

    Choose: Fruit that's heavy for its size with golden beige color underneath the light webbing and fresh, fragrant smell

    Store: Unripe at room temp; ripe in fridge for up to 5 days

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  5. Cherries

    Flavor: Sweet or sour-sweet

    Choose: Shiny and plump with fresh green stems and dark color

    Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 1 week

  6. Golden Berries

    Flavor: Tart and tangy

    Choose: Bright golden orange color with smooth skins

    Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 1 week

  7. Guava

    Flavor: Sweet and slightly floral

    Choose: Soft yellow-green color, gives slightly when gently squeezed

    Store: Unripe at room temp; ripe in fridge up to 4 days

  8. Honeydew Melons

    Flavor: Light, sweet, and subtle

    Choose: Fruit that's heavy for its size with dull, pale, yellow skin and fresh, fragrant smell

    Store: Unripe at room temp; ripe in fridge up to 5 days

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  9. Kiwi

    Flavor: Sweet, slightly acidic

    Choose: Fruit that gives slightly when gently pressed with thumb

    Store: At room temp up to 1 week

  10. Mangoes

    Flavor: Sweet, slightly floral

    Choose: Fruit that has a fruity smell and gives slightly when gently squeezed

    Store: At room temp up to 5 days

  11. Nectarines

    Flavor: Slightly tart

    Choose: Dark orange fruit with no brown or green spots, fruity smell, gives slightly when gently squeezed

    Store: At room temp up to 5 days

  12. Peaches

    Flavor: Sweet, slightly tart when unripe

    Choose: Fruit with a well-defined crease, fruity smell, gives slightly when gently squeezed

    Store: At room temp up to 5 days

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  13. Pineapple

    Flavor: Very sweet, slight tang

    Choose: Fruit that's heavy for its size with fresh green leaves and strong sweet smell; should be easy to pluck one leaf from crown

    Store: Whole ripe fruit in fridge up to 5 days

  14. Plums

    Flavor: Sweet to tart

    Choose: Fruit with vibrant skin color, dusty white powder on skin, gives slightly when gently squeezed

    Store: At room temp up to 5 days

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  15. Raspberries

    Flavor: Sweet and tart

    Choose: Bright, uniformly colored uncrushed berries

    Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 4 days

  16. Starfruit

    Look For: Firm fruit with a bright yellow color. Ripe fruits will have a sweet-tart flavor.

    Storage: Store at room temperature for 2 to 3 days (ripe); or in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days (cut).

  17. Strawberries

    Flavor: Sweet, may be slightly sour

    Choose: Brightly colored firm, plump fruit with fresh green stems attached and no white coloring

    Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 4 days

  18. Watermelon

    Flavor: Sweet, refreshing

    Choose: Fruit that's heavy for its size with dull skin and large yellow spot; should make deep thud sound when tapped with fingers

    Store: Whole ripe watermelon in fridge up to 1 week

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  19. Navel Oranges

    Flavor: Sweet with slight tartness

    Choose: Fruit that's heavy for its size with bright orange color; should feel firm when gently squeezed

    Store: In fridge up to 2 weeks

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  20. Ruby Red Grapefruits

    Flavor: Sweet and tangy

    Choose: Look for medium to large fruit with pale, buttery yellow skin that feels heavy for its size

    Store: At room temp up to 1 week

  21. Limes

    Flavor: Tart and slightly sour

    Choose: Fruit that is heavy for its size and gives slightly when gently squeezed

    Store: At room temp up to 1 week