10 Fruits and Vegetables with the Longest Shelf Life

With grocery costs rising, the last thing you want is to waste your expensive produce. We've all seen a fresh salad turn into mush when we forget about it in the crisper. However, with some planning, you can fill your cart with fruits and vegetables that stay fresh longer, helping you stretch your grocery budget and reduce food waste. When shopping, aim for maximum freshness: consider buying from a farmer’s market, CSA share, local garden, or other nearby sources. Freshly picked produce tends to last longer than items that have been transported long distances. At the supermarket, look for produce from the back where the newest items, like kale and apples, are usually kept. And when in doubt, always check the expiration date on pre-packaged produce and choose the latest available date. By adding these long-lasting fruits and vegetables to your shopping list, you might even reduce the number of trips to the store, lower your expenses, and help the planet with less waste and less gas usage.

Fruits with the Longest Shelf Life

Fruit can be expensive, and you certainly want to enjoy all the fruit you buy before it spoils. Choosing fruits that last longer, such as citrus and sturdier berries, ensures you always have fresh fruit on hand.

Apples

All varieties of apples can stay crisp for months, especially if they're freshly picked from a tree. Even apples from the supermarket can last well. Apples stored at room temperature will keep for about a week (away from direct sunlight), but whole apples wrapped in a damp paper towel and refrigerated can stay fresh in the crisper for up to six weeks.

Oranges

Those trendy bowls of oranges you see on countertops? Don’t leave them there. If you want your oranges to last for two weeks or longer, refrigerate them. Store them loose or in a mesh bag to allow airflow in the crisper drawer, and rotate them occasionally to ensure proper oxygen circulation. This method works for all types of citrus, including grapefruits and lemons.

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe can last for weeks depending on its ripeness when you purchase it. Allow it to ripen on the countertop, or slow the ripening by storing the whole melon in the fridge. Once ripe, the melon will stay fresh for several more days. After cutting, cantaloupe slices can last 3-4 more days in an airtight food storage container. Any leftover cantaloupe can be frozen for future smoothies once it starts to soften.

Strawberries

One of the longest-lasting berries, fresh strawberries can stay good for a week or more. Begin by checking your strawberries for any signs of spoilage, discarding any bad ones. Then, line an airtight container or jar with a dry paper towel, add the strawberries on top, and cover. Keep them refrigerated.

Blueberries

Blueberries that are ten days old can still be quite delicious! To keep them fresh, store your blueberries in a container that allows airflow, such as the pint container they typically come in. Line it with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture and place it on a shelf in the fridge to maintain airflow and prevent mold.

Vegetables with the Longest Shelf Life

In general, the heartier the vegetable, the longer it will last. Delicate leafy greens and softer vegetables like green leaf lettuce and fresh herbs will spoil first in your fridge – eat these sooner. Vegetables that last the longest often grow underground, and many can be kept in the dark for weeks, just like in their natural environment!

Potatoes

Potato cellars are designed to preserve these long-lasting veggies, allowing you to enjoy fresh potatoes year-round. Potatoes stored in any cool, dry pantry can last for several months.

Squash

There’s a reason squash is a frequent sight on countertops – it lasts almost forever. Though it should ideally be kept away from sunlight, winter squashes like acorn and butternut can stay fresh for over a month without refrigeration. To extend their shelf life, store them in the fridge. Once cut, however, squash is only good for a few days. So, enjoy it while fresh, or purée and freeze it for later use.

Kale

If you're tired of soggy salad greens, try making kale salads instead. When stored correctly in the fridge, kale can last up to a week, and possibly even longer! Just like lettuce, reduce excess moisture by wrapping kale in paper towels. You can also keep de-stemmed, ready-to-eat kale in sealed glass jars with water to keep it fresh and hydrated. Wilted kale can easily be steamed, cooked, or blanched and frozen for later use.

Beets

Beets are another root vegetable that can last for weeks. Whole beets only need a bit of prep to stay fresh for weeks or even months. Cut off the greens, rinse and dry them, then wrap in paper towels to absorb moisture and store in the fridge. The beetroot itself can be left in the crisper, where it will stay firm for up to two months.

Carrots

Carrots can stay crisp for up to a month (or even longer) if stored properly in the fridge. Be sure to remove and wash any greens, storing them in paper towels and using them within four days. The carrots themselves should not be washed or peeled, but kept in an airtight container or bag in the coldest section of the fridge.