Shelf life of fresh mini kiwis.
Mini kiwis have a relatively short shelf life when fresh, which can range from 7 to a maximum of 15 days, depending on the ripeness of the mini kiwis you have bought. The shelf life of fresh mini kiwis depends on various factors, such as the time of harvest or storage during distribution, with the most decisive factor being the time that elapses from when they are picked in the field until they reach your home; the shorter this period, the longer they will last in optimal condition.
And of course, we should always keep mini kiwis chilled to maximise their shelf life. We can therefore distinguish the storage period based on their origin, with three different scenarios:
If we buy freshly harvested mini kiwis or kiwiños directly from farmers, as is the case with us, given that we also operate under the “From the farm to your table” strategy, you will receive kiwiños at home that were still on the plants the day before; consequently, you can maximise their shelf life, which can be up to 15 days.
When we buy domestically grown mini kiwis from the supermarket, it is inevitable that a few days will have passed since they were picked; therefore, their shelf life in our homes will be around 7 days.
And finally, if you buy mini kiwis from third countries, they will keep for about 3 to 5 days, as although they may have travelled in a controlled atmosphere, once they reach the supermarket, their shelf life will decrease rapidly; therefore, we should consume them as soon as possible.
Before continuing, remember that mini kiwis are a climacteric fruit; therefore, they are harvested green and you must wait a few days for them to ripen before eating them. Although in practice they are treated like any other red fruit, freshly harvested mini kiwis are not yet ready to eat, unlike other red fruits.
How long do freshly picked mini kiwis keep?
Freshly picked mini kiwis can keep for 10 to 15 days, which is a reasonable shelf life for this fruit, whose skin is very thin and hairless, unlike its larger cousin, the green kiwi.
This thin skin of the mini kiwis means the fruit releases ethylene more easily, and so, within a few days of harvesting, they will already be soft and at their peak of ripeness, ready to eat and enjoy this true delicacy.
Should I store kiwiños in the fridge?
Yes, it is always recommended to store mini kiwis in the fridge, as at room temperature, their shelf life is drastically reduced to 3 or 4 days, provided they are still green.
If the mini kiwis are already ripe—at which point they are soft and their skin is wrinkled—their shelf life at room temperature will be only 24 to 48 hours.
Therefore, once you receive our freshly harvested organic mini kiwis, you should store them in the fridge to maximise their shelf life, as they can be kept for up to 15 days. It is important to bear in mind that during the summer months of August and September, when the mini kiwis are harvested, temperatures remain high, causing the fruit to spoil quickly; therefore, keeping them chilled is very important.
How many days do ripe mini kiwis keep?
When we harvest fully ripe mini kiwis from the plants, their shelf life is drastically reduced to just 1 or 2 days; this is why this practice is never recommended. Furthermore, when they are fully ripe, they are very soft and therefore more prone to breaking or bruising, making it impossible to sell them in that condition.
For this reason, just like other climate-sensitive fruits, mini kiwis are harvested green to maximise their shelf life.
So, how should mini kiwis be stored correctly?
To store mini kiwis correctly, they must be kept cold, in the fridge, as we have already mentioned. Furthermore, mini kiwis should be placed in a ventilated container, such as our cardboard tubs, which have holes to allow proper air circulation around the mini kiwis and thus maintain their freshness.
Another very important point is to keep the mini kiwis completely dry to prevent the growth of mould or other pathogens. As we explained in the FAQ “Do you wash blueberries?”, organic mini kiwis do not need to be washed before eating. And if you do wash them, it must be done correctly to avoid issues that reduce their shelf life.
Other tips for storing mini kiwis correctly and extending their shelf life are as follows:
- Place the mini kiwis in the coldest part of the fridge, which is usually the bottom or top shelf. Nowadays, there are also fridges with special fruit drawers, which help keep them fresh for longer.
- Do not store mini kiwis alongside other fruits that release large amounts of ethylene, such as apples, as this will accelerate the ripening process and drastically reduce their shelf life.
- Similarly, separate any mini kiwis that are riper from the rest.
- Never store mini kiwis when wet, as this will also significantly reduce their shelf life and may lead to the growth of mould.
Prepared and written by Adrián García Villar, Agricultural Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). Membership No. 215, Official Association of Agricultural Engineers of the Principality of Asturias (COIASTUR).
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References:
Filip Debersaques, Piotr Latocha, Jonas Decorte, (2019).
GARCÍA, RUBIO, J.C; GARCÍA GONZÁLEZ DE LENA, G.; CIORDIA-ARA, M. (2015).
Kiwi cultivation (SERIDA). AS 2.798-2015. ISBN: 978-84-608-1499-3