Do Plums Go Bad: Bought a bunch of plums, but wondering when is the right time to eat them? How to find out if your plums are fully ripe? Or do plums go out of date? Well, plums don’t come with an expiry label, but yes, they can go bad.
Read on to find out what are plums good for, how to keep plums from going bad, ripening time, how do you know when a plum is bad, whether should plums be refrigerated, how long can plums last in the fridge, and much more.
- Do Plums Go Bad?
- How Long Do Plums Last?
- How To Store Plums?
- How To Tell If Plums Are Bad?
- Interesting Facts about Plums
- Do Plums Need to be Refrigerated?
- Is it okay to eat spoiled plums?
- Can spoilt plums be useful?
- What if you have a stack of plums that are starting to soften but are still good enough to use?
- What happens if you eat a bad plum?
- Are plums good for you?
- How long do plums stay good in the fridge?
Do Plums Go Bad?
Yes, plums can go bad. Plums turn soft within a few days, and they are also prone to mold contamination. When the plums become black or spotty, they are no longer fresh.
How Long Do Plums Last In Fridge?
The nutritious fruit of the plum belongs to the same family as peaches and apricots. But plums come in a much wider range of colors and sizes than their stone-fruit cousins. Unripe plums typically need 1 to 2 days on the counter to ripen.
Once ripe, the plums remain good to use for another 2 to 3 days at room temperature. You can refrigerate the ripe cherry plums to increase their shelf life from 3 to 5 days up to a week.
If you leave ripe plums at room temperature, they deteriorate quickly and soften within a day or so. Softer plums can hold on to the quality only for a day or so. So, it’s best to consume these as soon as possible. Likewise, plums that are refrigerated at the peak of their freshness might be kept for 7 to 10 days.
To know how long do plums last in refrigerator and in the freezer either ripe or unripe, do refer to this image presented below:
| Type | Fridge | In The Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Unripe plums | 2 to 3 days, until ripe | |
| Ripe plums | 2 – 3 days | 3 – 5 days |
If your plums are cut into slices, they must be consumed within six hours or they will not be fresh enough to enjoy. If you want your plums to last for a long time, it’s a good idea to freeze them.
These periods are only rough estimates; some super-firm plums may take more than two days to ripen. Read on to find out the best tips for assessing your plums on an individual basis.
How To Store Plums? | Do plums have to be refrigerated?
It’s best to store unripe plums on the counter until they ripen. Ripe plums can remain fresh at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, and refrigerated ones can go for 3 to 5 days. To store the plums for a longer period, it’s advised to freeze them or make plum jam. When storing plums, remember to follow these tips
- Don’t stack the plums too high: Although plums aren’t as fragile as strawberries, that doesn’t mean they’ll withstand a lot of weight on top of them.
- Wash plums just before eating: If you want to wash the plums, dry them thoroughly using paper towels before storing them.
- Keep plums away from stinky foods: Plums absorb the odors of their surroundings, so keep them away from stinky foods.
How To Tell If Plums Are Bad?
- Plums don’t stay fresh forever. Follow the tips regarding how do you know a plum is bad (Spoilage Signs):
Look for visual signs of deterioration: Plums that are not fresh get discolored. Also, if the skin of your plums has become wrinkly, it is an indication of lost freshness. Plums with spots and mold should never be eaten. - Firmness Test: Gently touch the plumes, and if they are super soft, mushy, shriveled, or oozing juice, it’s time to let them go.
- Sniff Test: Fresh plums have a pleasant aroma, whereas spoiled plums smell sour and foul.
- Look for worms or larvae: Cut the plum open and inspect the inside for any larval growth. Blindly eating the whole thing and spitting out the pit is never a good idea when it comes to plums.
As always, if anything else about your plums seems off, trust your gut and discard the fruit. Better safe than sorry.
Read More:
Interesting Facts about Plums (marigold plums)
Plums can even be pickled: From Japan to India and many other countries, plum pickles are made in a variety of sweet and sour tastes. In Japan, plums are preserved to make umeboshi, which is typically served on top of rice.
Plum Drink: With the plum as its national fruit, Serbia is the world’s top exporter of plums. Plums are also used here in a spirit called slivovitz—derived from Slavic for plum—which is the country’s national drink. Plums can be stored for up to 3 years to make this natural plum brandy.
Plums come in a rainbow of colors: Most people think of plums as being only purple—the deep shade known as “plum” was named after the fruit. But plums come in much more diverse colors and sizes. Plums come in a variety of colors like red, purple, green, pink, yellow, or orange.
Plums are good for the eyes, immunity, and the digestive system: Plums and prunes contain low calories and low sugar. They are packed with nutrients and vitamins like vitamin A, which is essential for good eyesight and heart health, and vitamin C, which helps the immune system work properly. Plums also contain fiber, which is vital for a healthy digestive system.
FAQs on Do Plums Go Bad | How Long Does Plums Last In The Fridge?
1. Do Plums Need to be Refrigerated?
No, unripe plums need not be stored in a refrigerator. However, storing ripe plums in the fridge is highly recommended. On refrigeration, the ripe plum shelf life can be increased twofold.
2. Is it okay to eat spoiled plums?
Nope, you cannot afford to eat spoiled plums. A single bite of spoiled plum will make you throw up. It is too bitter to swallow. If you insist on eating spoiled plums, be prepared to have a stomach ache, which may be accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. So, stick to the safe side and avoid the temptation of having these fruits when spoiled.
3. Can spoilt plums be useful?
Absolutely! Instead of eating them, gardening enthusiasts can use spoiled plums to make organic compost. Spoiling plums produce worms that feed on the rotten fruit. These worms can be used in garden compost.
4. What if you have a stack of plums that are starting to soften but are still good enough to use?
You could freeze the softening plums to postpone the problem. Alternatively, soft plums can be used in cooking or baking. Plum jam, plum pie, and plum muffins are some of the more popular cooking options. Or don your chef’s hat and incorporate soft plums into your favorite baking recipe.
5. What happens if you eat a bad plum?
Mostly, nothing will happen after eating a bad plum. At last, it tastes worse in the mouth and may get allergic to some sensitive people.
Yes, plums are very good and nutritious fruit that contains excellent sources of vitamins, fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. Also, pluot fruit has many characteristics that can reduce the risk of various chronic diseases like Osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
7. Do plums last longer in the fridge?
A big yes, Plums last longer in the fridge. The answer to how long do plums last in the refrigerator is up to a week.
Conclusion
Hope you’ve learned how long will plums last in the fridge, how to store it, and when to toss it. Leave us a comment about the shelf life of any other edible product and we shall get back to you with an exclusive article.
Stay tuned to get interesting wellness updates. You might be interested in our other articles like Can Raisins Go Bad, do peaches need to be refrigerated, etc.