Fruit cups are a refreshing and nutritious food made from a variety of fresh fruits. They are a favorite snack for many people, including both children and adults. But do you know how long fruit cups last, and whether they can expire? You need to understand this because if a fruit cup goes bad or is no longer safe to consume, you should discard it.
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about fruit cups—including how long they last, their shelf life, expiration details, how to tell if they have gone bad, and the common causes that lead to spoilage.
Fruit Cups Shelf Life: How long do fruit cups Last
One of the advantages of Fruit Cups is that they have a long shelf life. They sell these as pieces of fruit in cans or cups. Usually, manufacturers preserve the fruit in syrup inside cans and seal the lid to prevent exposure to air and moisture. Storing it in airtight cans helps extend its shelf life.
The shelf life of Fruit Cups is several years if stored properly in unopened cans.
Fruit cups can also expire, but how long they last depends on the type of fruit and how you process it. You also have to consider storage conditions because they affect the fruit cup’s shelf life.
The Average Shelf Life for Leading Brands
| Fruit cups products | Unopened | Opened | In Refrigerator |
| Dole Fruit Bowls | More than a year | 2-3 days | > 1 year |
| Del Monte | 2 to 3 years | 10 days(if stored in Ref. without closing) | > 1 year |
| Happy Belly | More than a year | 2-4 days | > 1 year |
| GoGo squeeZ | 12 months | 24hrs | > 1 year |
For detailed information about the fruit cups’ shelf life and more, you can find it on the official website.
What Happens If You Eat Expired Fruit Cups?
Expired fruit cups are those that have passed the date printed on the packaging, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they have gone bad. The expiration date is mainly an indicator of the fruit’s freshness and the optimal quality for consumption. If you want to enjoy fruit cups at their best in terms of taste and texture, it’s good to consume them before the expiration date.
But this doesn’t mean you can’t consume expired fruit cups anymore. As long as you store it properly and you see no signs of spoilage, fruit food is still edible and harmless. You should only throw them away if you identify any of the several signs of fruit cup spoilage.
Expiration Date and Its Meaning
Fruit cups, like most manufactured goods, have a “best before” rather than an “expiration” date. But what makes them different? A “best before” date is a specific sign to indicate when a food. That is, it is the last date the food was in its freshness state. After that, the food is usually still edible, it’s just that quality has improved in terms of taste, texture, and nutrition.
While a “use by” date is the form of the expiration date used on food to indicate the last day a food is considered safe to eat. This indicates that on that date, a product begins to decline in quality and safety. So, the advice is “don’t eat it,” even if it doesn’t necessarily give you food poisoning.
Among the perishable foods are dairy products, meat, and poultry. Because fruit cups are perishable, manufacturers usually put a ‘use by’ date to show when you should consume them to ensure good quality and safety.
A “sell-by” date is a form or type of expiration date that is used on food labels to identify when a product should be taken out of stores. The “sell-by” date is a label that shows retailers when they should clear their items from store shelves. So, this does not indicate a product that is no longer safe to eat. You can still safely eat products with a ‘sell-by’ date label even after the date has passed, for some time.
Sell-by Vs Use-by Date: Fruit Cups Shelf Life Note
It’s important to know that a “sell-by” date is different from the “use-by” date. “Use-by” date is a label to show a product according to its quality, so that consumers must be careful with it. While the “sell-by” date is a label that is shown to retailers to sell their goods before that date.
Thus, the “sell-by” date is for the retailer, and the “use-by” date is for the consumer.
The “use-by” label is a helpful guide for consumers like you and me. According to the USDA, Americans waste up to 30% of their food supply. If you don’t understand the difference between “use-by” and “sell-by” dates, you’re more likely to throw away food that is still safe and edible. That’s why understanding these labels is essential, especially for those of you who shop regularly at grocery stores.
How Long Can Fruit Cups Stay Open?
As soon as you open the can of fruit cup or the package, the transformation process begins quickly. As long as you store it properly, the opened fruit cup can last up to several days to a week.
If you’ve opened it and you can’t finish it, you can close the bottle or cup again, and store it in the refrigerator so that it stays cold, and it’s not easy for bad bacteria and microorganisms to grow that cause fruit spoilage.
How To Tell if Fruit Cups Go Bad?
To ensure the fruit cups’ shelf life is still safe, and you do not eat fruit that is damaged, it is important to always check the expiration date.
If the expiration date has passed, you should watch for signs of spoilage to make sure you discard your fruit cup and don’t eat it anymore. Here are some important tips to help you find out if your fruit cup is spoiled.
- Bad smell: If you find a bad smell coming from your fruit cups, then this is a sign that it has gone bad.
- Mold: If there is mold growing on the surface of the fruit during storage, then ensure that your fruit cups have gone bad, and you should throw them away instead of eating the unhealthy ones.
- Discoloration: Also, pay attention to the color; if the fruits have turned black, then you must discard them because they have passed their peak.
- Changes in texture: If you find that your fruit cups have a mushy or soft texture, then this is a sign that they should be discarded.
- The can is swollen: This indicates that someone has tampered with the fruit cups, causing a chemical reaction inside, so you need to throw them away.
What do Spoiled Fruit Cups Taste Like?
Fruit cups that have passed their shelf life or have expired have an unpleasant, sour taste, and this occurs due to the breakdown of sugars by fruit enzymes and bacteria that have grown in them.
So, the texture of the fruit may also be soft, slimy, and slippery with an unpleasant odor. If you find fruit cups like these, then you should throw them away rather than eat them and cause food poisoning.
What Makes Fruit Cups Go Bad?
Why do fruit cups expire and go bad? Several factors play a role in food spoilage, including fruit in cans, including:
- Humidity: If high humidity causes the fruit to spoil quickly, you should store it in a cool, dry place inside an airtight container.
- Temperature: If the temperature is high, then the fruit cup can spoil quickly, so the temperature should be kept cold at refrigerator temperature. Storing it in the refrigerator can extend its shelf life.
- Exposure to light and air: Once you open the can, you must finish it. Exposure to air and light can accelerate decay. Then store the fruit cup in an airtight container and a place free from light.
- Age: It cannot be denied that storage age can affect the quality and spoilage of food, including fruit. Sealed fruit cups can last up to 1 year, but if you store them longer than the recommended time, they will spoil even in the storage area. So when buying fruit cups, check the expiration date so you get fresh ones.
- Microorganisms: Microorganisms are also one of the causes of damage to the fruit cup. Among the microorganisms are bacteria, fungi, and yeast that can appear on the surface of the fruit cup.
- Damage to the cans: Damage to the cans can also damage the food inside. If the cans are damaged, then you should make sure the fruit inside won’t last long.
What is the Best Way to Keep Fruit Cups Fresh?
The best way to keep fruit cups fresh is to pay attention to their storage. Correct storage can extend the shelf life of a fruit cup. But this depends on whether you have opened the fruit cup or not. So, fruit cups that you haven’t opened or that remain sealed will last longer.
To keep your fruit cup fresh and last longer, you can follow the below storage steps.
- Store in an airtight container and put in the refrigerator. You should keep the storage area away from heat sources and avoid exposing it to direct sunlight.
- Pay attention to the expiration date, so don’t store fruit cups that are almost past their expiration date. Avoid using damaged or bulging cans, as they can shorten the shelf life.
- Close the airtight container tightly to ensure no air can get in.
You must use up fruit cups that have been opened within a few days to ensure freshness.
Should You Refrigerate Fruit Cups to Extend Their Shelf Life?
The answer depends on the type of fruit cup; some types resist storage in the pantry or kitchen shelf and don’t need chilling. Others require refrigeration to keep them fresh longer.
Usually, fruit cup cans packed with preservatives will last in the pantry as long as you haven’t opened them. Once opened, you have no other alternative but to put it in the refrigerator. Most homemade fruit is made with fresh fruit and doesn’t use preservatives. If it’s like this, you have to store it in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life.
Remember, if you buy it in a store, please pay attention to the storage method. So, your fruit cup lasts longer.
Fruit Cups Shelf Life In The Freezer?
Putting fruit cups in the freezer is the best way to extend their shelf life. If your product is in a sealed can, it can last up to a year or more. But if you have opened the can, then you must put its contents in an airtight container and store it in the freezer to make it last for several months.
When placing in an airtight container, if you are using a freezer-safe plastic bag, then press down on the bag to release all the air inside. Then, store it for several months. If you want to use it, then take it out of the freezer and leave it overnight in the fridge, letting it thaw slowly to keep its texture and taste fresh.
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How Long Can I Store Fruit Cups in the Pantry?
Keep fruit cups in the pantry. Packing them in juice or syrup works best. Store at room temperature in a dry, cool place and keep them away from direct light. They can last 12 to 18 months, especially if you keep them sealed in cans.
If you have opened it, then put it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator to last for 3-5 days.
So, that’s the shelf life of the fruit cup; you determine how long it lasts by how you store it, including where you keep it, how much light you expose it to, and how old the fruit cup is when you buy it.
What Can I Do with Old Fruit Cups?
If your storage is near or just past the date, check it first. If it smells fine and feels okay, use it. You can add it to smoothies or salads. It will be more delicious to enjoy it than to eat it straight away.
Besides making smoothies, you can use old fruit cups to make cakes like muffins, pie, and cakes.
If your fruit cups are bad and smelly, don’t throw them away. Use them as natural compost. Place them in flower pots or soil. They add extra nutrition for plants.
