How long do strawberries last?
In the fridge, strawberries keep for 2 to 3 days from the package date.
No guideline
2 to 3 days
from the package date
No guideline
Do strawberries go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, strawberries 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 strawberries have gone bad
- Check the pack for mould before you store it. If one berry is mouldy, spores have already reached the berries around it: discard the mouldy berry and any touching it.
- Soft, leaking or dull berries with wet patches are past their best. Whitish or grey fuzz is mould, and those berries go out.
- Wash berries under cold running water only just before eating, with the cap still on. Washing early adds moisture and speeds spoilage.
- In a home fridge strawberries keep about 3 days. Cut berries should be sealed, dated and used by the next day.
Sources: Strawberries fact sheet (USDA Food and Nutrition Service). The times on this page 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.