The one fruit you're not refrigerating—but should

Stick it in the fridge as soon as you get home.

As a big fruit fan, I've experimented with various storage methods over the years. Fruit doesn't last that long at our house (thanks to us eating it), but sometimes I find a good deal ($1 for a whole bag of lemons?!) or can't resist peak season (an entire flat of strawberries for two people, why not?). In addition to my fruit obsession, I'm also very into avoiding food waste. I hate throwing out items that were perfectly edible a few days ago.

This means I know a thing or two about making fruit last. And while fridging some fruit seems obvious (delicate berries, a cut watermelon), I often see a particular kind of fruit on my friends' counters, piled into bowls as if they'll last forever. It takes everything in me not to move them to the fridge myself.

Even if my friends won't listen, at least I can tell you. Please store your citrus fruit in the fridge. I'll tell you why.

Why You Should Store Citrus Fruit In the Fridge

I know oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes look oh-so-pretty sitting in a bowl on your counter. And if you plan to use them within a few days, then you can leave them there. But if you want your citrus to last and stay juicy and fresh-tasting, then the fridge is your friend.

The refrigerator can affect the texture and flavor of some fruits, such as tomatoes. Not so with citrus. Thanks to their thick skin, citrus fruits are unaffected by the chill of the fridge. In fact, they're put into cold storage as soon as they are picked right up until you buy them. That's because growers know that low temperatures are key to keeping lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit fresh.

The longest citrus will last at room temperature is about a week. Transferred to the fridge? They last for at least a month without noticeable changes in their juiciness or flavor.

How I Store Citrus Fruit So It Lasts

When I unpack my grocery bags, I always have at least a few lemons or limes to put away. I immediately transfer them to the crisper drawer in the fridge. If you have a drawer specifically for fruit, use that one.

I tend to use up citrus within a week or two, so I simply store them loose so that I can reach in and grab what I need. If you purchased a bag of citrus, you can store it directly in the bag. It was designed exactly for that purpose; just double-check that all of the fruit is intact and there's no mold before storing. If you purchased citrus loose and want it to last longer, add it to a loosely closed bag and store it in the crisper. Wash citrus just before using.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes