Ripen at Room Temperature
- Ripen peaches, plums, mangoes and pears in a paper bag at room temperature. This may take a few days. Once they feel like they give just a bit when you hold them in your palm, they are ripe enough. Store them in the refrigerator after they ripen so they will last longer.
Store at Room Temperature
- Always store bananas at room temperature. Both the taste and texture may change if you put them in the refrigerator. Store cantaloupe and other melons at room temperature as well; the texture becomes rubbery if stored in the refrigerator and they begin to lose their flavor. Cantaloupe will become overly ripe in just a few days if left at room temperature, so plan to eat it within just a few days of purchase. Store fruits away from strong smelling vegetables such as onions and garlic, which you should also store at room temperature.
Keep Cool but Not Refrigerated
- Store lemons and limes in a cool place, but don't refrigerator them. They easily absorb odors from other foods in the fridge, which can make them unappetizing. Keep them in a dry place or they will spoil quickly. You can keep other citrus fruits in the refrigerator if you prefer, though some people prefer to eat them at room temperature.
Store in Refrigerator
- Store berries of all kinds in the refrigerator. You can keep apples in the refrigerator if you prefer or you can store them in a cool, dark place. You can store pineapples in the refrigerator as well, though they will also keep well enough at room temperature. The Food Network suggests storing pineapples upside down for a few days because the bottom of the fruit has more sugar and storing them upside down distributes the sugar more evenly, making the fruit taste equally sweet all over.
