How To Store Kiwi So It Lasts

Sometimes I purchase too many kiwi fruit which steered me to research the answer to, how do you store kiwi fruit for a long time?

The best way to store kiwi fruit for a long time is to freeze them once they are ripe. They can be stored in the freezer for about one year. For kiwi fruit to last up to 21 days, the whole kiwi can be stored in the refrigerator.

I am a Certified Health Coach and many people ask me about kiwi storage. This blog post will inform you about the best ways to store your kiwi fruit in the short-term and long-term. From the counter, to the fridge and freezer, I’ll cover how to perform each one in detail.

How To Store Kiwi So It Lasts

Best Way To Freeze Kiwi Fruit

If you want your kiwis to last a long time, your best option is to freeze them. If you freeze kiwis properly they can last up to one year. However, they will hold their quality for up to 8 months so it’s best you eat them within this time.

Kiwi can be frozen sliced, diced or whole. It’s important to plan a head of time what you’ll be using the frozen kiwi for. This way you can pick which way to prepare it and store it. 

In addition, when kiwi is thawed, it will be more mushier than it was prior to freezing. This will be more pronounced with a whole kiwi and should be considered prior to making your decision.

It’s best to freeze a ripe kiwi because an unripe one will remain that way in the freezer. Later on in the article, I’ll tell you how to ripen your kiwi faster if needed.

Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Freeze Kiwi Slices

Sliced kiwi can be used in salads or smoothies. In addition, it’s probably the fastest and easiest way to freeze a kiwi other than whole.

Follow these steps to freeze kiwi slices, I use the same method:

• Peel the kiwi.
• Cut it into slices.
• Place the slices in a single layer onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet or tray. Space the slices so they are not touching each other.
• Place the tray into the freezer until the slices are completely frozen.
• Remove the frozen slices and place them into a plastic freezer bag or airtight container.
• Remove as much excess air as possible.
• Date the freezer bag or container and store in the freezer up to one year.

To remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag, it’s best to use a vacuum sealer. If you don’t have a sealer, squeeze as much air out as possible. Then use a straw to suck the remaining air out through a small hole before closing it completely.

A vacuum sealer is one of those items you’d wonder how you did without after purchasing one. I have one made by FoodSaver. They sell a variety of affordable ones on Amazon which you can check out by clicking here, vacuum sealers.

If using a container, leave a 1/2 inch of space at the top of the container. Use Tupperware specifically for freezing. They’re listed on Amazon which you can check out right here, food storage containers.

How To Freeze Kiwi Diced

Dicing kiwi is similar to slicing, but it’s to make smaller pieces of kiwi. This may be better if you’re adding the pieces into a blender and it’s not powerful enough to take on much frozen pieces at once.

Or it just may be your preference to have them cut smaller. Whatever the reason is, follow these steps to make frozen kiwi diced:

• Peel the kiwi.
• Cut the kiwi into the size you prefer.
• Place the diced kiwi in a single layer onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet or tray. Space the pieces so they are not touching each other.
• Place the tray into the freezer until the pieces are completely frozen.
• Remove the frozen diced kiwi and place them into a plastic freezer bag or airtight container.
• Remove as much excess air as possible.
• Date the freezer bag or container and store in the freezer up to one year.

Freeze Kiwi Whole

If you want to keep the kiwis for their juices, then storing them whole is one of the best ways of making them last longer. However, if you plan on eating the kiwi once it’s thawed then storing it whole is not the best option. 

This is because kiwis contains a good amount of liquid. When the liquid freezes, it creates ice crystals which break down the cells in the kiwi¹. When it’s thawed, the kiwi will be mushy.

The same occurs with slices but it’s more pronounced with a whole kiwi. The following three steps should be taken when freezing a whole kiwi:

1. Place the whole kiwi into a freezer bag.
2. Remove as much excess air as possible and seal the freezer bag.
3. Date the bag and store the whole kiwi in the freezer up to one year.

You may have been wondering if you have to peel the outer skin or if you can eat it. It’s a good question which I answer in my blog post, Can You Eat The Whole Kiwi?

How To Refrigerate Kiwi

Storing your kiwis in the refrigerator is not going to make it last the longest. However, other than freezing, it’s the best way to store your kiwi fruit for a long time.

It’s better to wait until the kiwi is ripe before refrigerating². Later in the article, I’ll explain how to tell if it’s ripe and how to make it ripen faster if needed.

Place the kiwi into the refrigerator and keep it away from other ethylene gas producing fruit³. Ethylene gas starts the ripening process and fruits that emit the gas will cause the ripening process to speed up.

Other ethylene producing fruit, also known as climacteric, are the following:

• Apple
• Apricots
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Honeydew melon
• Mango
• Nectarine
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Plums
• Tomatoes

In addition, kiwi is sensitive to ethylene gas. It’s another reason I keep it away from the fruits listed above. Kiwi can last up to three weeks in the refrigerator⁴.

How Long Do Kiwis Last On The Counter?

If you have kiwi and they haven’t ripened yet, it’s best to keep them out in room temperature. Place them in a bowl away from the climacteric fruits listed earlier. Keep them out of direct sunlight or heat like the oven⁵.

Once the kiwi has become ripe, you can continue leaving them at room temperature where they will last for several days up to one week.

If you want them to last longer, then move them into the refrigerator and follow the tips given in the last section ((ScienceDirect: Postharvest quality of hardy kiwifruit associated with packaging and storage conditions)).

Cut kiwi will only last at room temperature on the counter for about four hours.

How to tell if a kiwi is ripe? To tell if a kiwi is ripe, press one finger into the fruit and apply gentle pressure. If the finger indents the kiwi, it’s ripe. If the kiwi is hard and doesn’t leave an indentation, it’s unripe.

If you want to speed up the ripening process⁶, I recommend placing your kiwis in a brown paper bag and then storing the bag in a cabinet or counter at room temperature. Keeping the kiwi fruit in a sealed bag will help trap the ethylene gas and speed up the ripening⁷. Keep checking up on the kiwis every day and they should be ready in about 2 days.

If you have any questions about this article don’t hesitate to comment below or email us. You can find an email on our contact page.

Read Next – More Food Storage

This Is How Long Lemons Can Stay Frozen For

The Best Way To Store Mushroom

This Is How To Preserve Cut Papaya

1. Ohio State University Extension: Food Preservation: Freezing Fruits [↩]
2. North Dakota University: Focus On Whole Fruits: How to Select and Store Fruit [↩]
3. California Department of Education: Kiwi Fruit [↩]
4. Purdue University: Kiwifruit [↩]
5. Wikipedia: Kiwifruit [↩]
6. Oregon State University: Preserving Kiwifruit [↩]
7. Michigan State University: All fruit and vegetables are not created equal when it comes to proper storage conditions [↩]