How to Store Grapefruit

Buy grapefruit in bulk when they are in season and enjoy them all year long. Find out how to store grapefruit to use now, in a few days, and in a few months.

Grapefruit and other citrus fruits are in season in the winter in the United States. It’s a great time to stock up on fresh fruit, and a fun change from the peaches, strawberries, pears, and apples from the summer and fall. Citrus fruits will stay fresh for a few days at room temperature, even longer in the refrigerator, and you can even freeze them to store them for extended periods of times.

Do not store grapefruit inside a plastic bag or closed container. Air won’t circulate well, and can cause the fruit to get moldy and spoil early. It’s best to keep them loose or in an open bowl on your counter or on your refrigerator. The thick skin of the grapefruit helps it retain the moisture inside. If you do want to use a bag to store your grapefruits, try a mesh produce bag. These bags do allow air to circulate, cutting back on early mold problems, although for a thick-skinned fruit like grapefruit they aren’t necessary.

Even though you will peel grapefruit before you eat it, be sure to wash it under cool running water before cutting into the peel.

At Room Temperature

The best place to store grapefruit is on the counter. If you’ll use it up within a week, this is your best storage option. Leave them on the counter, or collect them in a bowl. Do keep in mind that even though they seem to have a tough rind, grapefruits are a pretty delicate fruit. If you’re going to keep them in a bowl, don’t layer too many or the fruits on the bottom will bruise.

In the Refrigerator

If you won’t use your grapefruit within about 5-7 days, it’s best to keep them in the refrigerator. Store them in your crisper drawer on the fruit (or low humidity) setting. They will stay fresh for a few weeks in your refrigerator. You do still need to handle the grapefruits gently. Rough handling, stacking, or a too-full crisper drawer can cause your grapefruits to bruise or to go bad sooner.

Once you cut or peel grapefruit, it should be stored in the refrigerator. I like these produce saver containers to help keep my cut produce fresh longer.

In the Freezer

You can even store grapefruit in the freezer. Peel them and freeze them whole, or cut them apart and freeze the sections. Freeze grapefruit sections in a single layer on parchment paper. When it is frozen, transfer the sections into Ziploc freezer bags, labeled and dated. Frozen grapefruit can be eaten right out of the freezer, tossed in water for a fruit ice cube, used in smoothies, or thawed and eaten later. (The texture might change just a little bit after thawing.)

Now that you know how to keep your cut grapefruit, check out this post for some tips (and a video!) on how to cut a grapefruit.

So go for it! Stock up on grapefruit when they are on sale, and enjoy this tangy citrus fruit all year long!

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