How long do berries last?
In the fridge, berries keep for 7 days from the package date. All 2 kinds are below.
No guideline
7 days
from the package date
No guideline
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cherries, goose berries, lychee | no guideline | 7 days | no guideline | 12 months |
| blackberries, boysenberries, currant | no guideline | 3 to 6 days | no guideline | 12 months |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Do berries go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, berries may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell berries have gone bad
General signs for produce: fresh fruits, the group USDA lists berries under.
- Soft, mushy spots that were firm a day or two before
- Visible mould, often fuzzy white, green or grey
- Leaking juice or a fermented, alcohol-like smell
- Wrinkled, shriveled skin on fruit that used to be firm
- Sour smell replacing a fruit's normal sweet scent
More on produce: fresh fruits. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other produce: fresh fruits last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.