How To Keep Fruit Salad Fresh In Your Mason Jars - Tasting Table

"The sad reality of fruit salads is that they don't stay fresh for long after they are made. Berries grow soggy. Apples turn brown around the edges. Melons lose that juicy crisp we adore so much. While it's impossible to stop this from happening, you can always slow it down and keep the salad fresh longer - giving you just enough extra time to enjoy all that goodness once again. The only things you'll need are lemon juice and a mason jar."

"Once you've loaded the fruit salad into the jar, squeeze lemon juice over it, and store it in the fridge. Properly sealed, the fruit salad should remain fresh for at least three days - although, if you're making it ahead of time, limit to one day to be certain. Make sure you opt for wide-mouthed jars so you can add the ingredients easily, and maybe even skip the bowl entirely to enjoy it directly from the jar."

"This could be sturdy ones like apples, berries, and melons, or citrus varieties such as grapefruits and oranges. It also goes without saying that storing fruit salad in the fridge (or freezer) is crucial to maintaining its freshness. This means you don't want to keep it at room temperature for too long - especially not overnight. The refrigerator's stable, cool temperature is key to inhibiting bacterial growth and, therefore, extending the fruits' freshness."

Fruit salad spoils quickly as berries soften, apples brown, and melons lose crispness. Cutting and packing fruit into wide-mouthed mason jars, then squeezing lemon juice over the fruit and sealing the jar, slows browning and preserves texture. Properly sealed and refrigerated jars can keep fruit salad fresh for at least three days, though preparing more than one day ahead is not recommended. Choose sturdy fruits—apples, berries, melons, and citrus—to withstand storage. Refrigeration (or freezing) is essential because cool, stable temperatures inhibit bacterial growth. Lemon juice reduces enzymatic oxidation that causes browning, improving appearance and enjoyment.

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