Learning how to keep fruit salad fresh is the ultimate challenge, with the vibrant bowls of goodness never seeming to last long before transforming into a mushy mess. Luckily, there are some fruit salad preservation tips that change the game, preventing fruit browning and allowing you to enjoy the colorful fruit salad for much longer.

Here, we’re covering the ins and outs of keeping fruit salad colorful (including an anti-browning ingredient that actually works) and expert-approved food preservation techniques and fruit salad freshness tricks that extend the life of the centerpiece of your snack spread.

How long does fruit salad last?

Figuring out how to keep fruit salad fresh can be a challenge. While fruit generally lasts three to five days in the refrigerator, it browns much quicker than that. In the case of a sliced apple, for example, the flesh can go from mouth-watering to brown in just a few minutes. While this browning doesn’t affect the taste of the fruit, it certainly makes it look less appetizing. Especially when you’re dealing with a fruit salad—something that’s supposed to be a vibrant focal point.

Before diving into how to keep fruit salad fresh for longer (it is possible, so long as you practice proper fruit bowl maintenance and have some fresh fruit salad tips on hand), it’s important to first take a deep-dive into why fruit turns brown in the first place. Once you know the science behind the reaction, you can learn exactly how to slow it down.

Why does fruit salad turn brown so fast?

Preventing fruit browning isn’t easy. You may notice that after you’ve carefully cut and combined your various slices of apple, strawberry, or banana, those once-luscious pieces of fruit begin to turn brown within a few hours in some cases.

The reason why prolonging fruit freshness is so challenging is due to enzymatic browning, which is an oxidation reaction that causes the discoloration. The process goes a little something like this: After the cut fruit is exposed to oxygen, an enzyme—known as polyphenol oxidase—reacts with amino acids in the fruit, “producing compounds like melanin that give the fruit a brown color,” says Jillian Smith, RDN, lead registered dietitian for GutPersonal.

Because this reaction is inevitable, fruit bowl maintenance is required in preventing fruit browning (like utilizing an anti-browning ingredient or two you likely already have on hand). There are also plenty of fruit salad freshness tricks that extend the life of the dish, too, whether you’re trying to figure out how to keep fruit salad fresh overnight or for a week. Read on for expert-approved fruit salad preservation secrets.

How to keep fruit salad fresh: 7 food preservation techniques that (actually) work

1. Use citrus juice, like orange or lemon juice

One of the best fruit salad ingredient secrets, coming right up. According to Smith, citrus juice is an anti-browning ingredient that works like a charm in keeping a colorful fruit salad, all thanks to its acidity. “To prevent fruit salad from turning brown, you can toss the fruits in a mixture of citrus juice (like lemon or orange juice) before combining them, as the citric acid in the juice helps inhibit enzymatic browning by reducing the fruits’ exposure to oxygen,” she says.

2. Keep it covered

Sure, fruit salad is a delightful table centerpiece, but keeping it uncovered is the worst possible fruit bowl maintenance method. It does nothing for its lifespan except shorten it. Because the enzymes in fruit react with oxygen, causing the pieces to become discolored, Smith says one of the easiest food preservation techniques is keeping it tightly covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it.

3. Always refrigerate it

Need to know how to keep fruit salad fresh overnight? This is the fruit salad preservation tip for you. Your fruit salad shouldn’t sit at room temperature until it’s time to serve it. Instead, “store your fruit salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator to slow down bacterial growth and enzymatic browning,” says Smith.

Past research has found the lower temperature is able to suppress enzymatic browning—primarily at temps below 45 degrees, which is said to inhibit polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity. Considering the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that the refrigerator temperature be set at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re likely already good to go.

4. Use sturdy fruits

Your colorful fruit salad should reflect your favorite fruits, but if you’re aiming for prolonging fruit freshness, some ingredients are better suited to storage than others. For example, apples, oranges, peaches, and mangos tend to keep better than bananas, watermelon, raspberries, and strawberries. Fruits that can keep their whole skins on, like blueberries and grapes, are also wise choices. (Psst—need some more ideas for your fruit salad? Give these high-protein fruits a try.)

5. Reduce chopping

Ready for a prime fresh fruit preparation tip? To increase the amount of time your fruit salad lasts, don’t go overboard when you cut your fruit. Roughly chopping it into larger pieces keeps the fruit from leaking too much juice. For fruits with edible skins, leave the skins on. (Pro tip: If you cut up too much fruit, freeze the leftovers. You can use the extras in some healthy fruit desserts, like a parfait or ice cream, later on.)

6. Utilize vacuum sealing

If available, Smith says using a vacuum sealer to remove air from the container before sealing your fruit salad is great for keeping fruit salad colorful. “Doing so minimizes oxygen exposure and prolongs the shelf life of your fruit salad,” she says.

7. Give the fruit a water bath

Sometimes learning how to keep fruit salad fresh is as easy as making a water bath. Fill up a container with water and submerge sturdy fruit pieces (like apples). Then add a lid and put the container in the refrigerator. Because exposure to oxygen is the culprit in kickstarting the browning process, eliminating it can extend the life of the fruit.

With this knowledge, you’re now well-equipped to win the battle between fresh fruit salad and the open air. But if you’re still in need of some fresh fruit salad tips—from how to preserve fruit salad for a week to an unbeatable way to store fruit salad—keep reading.

Frequently asked questions about keeping fruit salad fresh

Does lemon juice keep fruit salad fresh?

Want to be let in on a fruit salad ingredient secret? Citrus juice is great at keeping fruit salad colorful thanks to its acidity, and lemon juice is the all-star anti-browning ingredient of the group. “The acidity of lemons helps to prevent the browning of fruits,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Keri Gans, MS, RDN, CDN. “Specifically, it helps to inactivate the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which is responsible for the browning.” Beyond keeping fruit salad fresh, lemon can also help enhance its flavor. The acidic bite of the citrus accentuates the sweetness of the other fruits, and also helps bring forward their juices.

But how much lemon juice do you need? If you don’t want the taste of lemon overwhelming all the other flavors in your salad, consider using two tablespoons of lemon juice and one teaspoon of sugar for every four cups of fruit. Combine the lemon and sugar in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved, then pour the mixture onto your fruit salad. That said, the exact amount of lemon juice that you use is ultimately a flavor preference. If you like a tart bite to your fruit salads, by all means, pump up the lemon flavor a bit. For extra protection against oxidation, use a wooden spoon to mix the finished product rather than metal.

Can you preserve fruit salad for a full week?

Mastering how to keep fruit salad fresh overnight? Easy. Figuring out how to preserve fruit salad for a week, however, can be difficult. While cut fruit can last up to five days in the refrigerator with proper fresh fruit preparation and storage, getting that far isn’t easy. “Preserving fruit salad for a full week can be challenging due to the natural tendency of fruit to lose freshness and texture over time,” says Smith. With that being said, there are hacks you can use to extend its shelf life.

Smith says one of the most important factors when determining how to preserve fruit salad for a week is choosing the right ingredients. “Choose fruits that are less prone to browning and texture deterioration, such as apples, grapes, melons, and citrus fruits,” she says. “Avoid using fruits like bananas and berries, which tend to break down faster.” She also recommends tossing everything in citrus juice to prevent browning, adding a small amount of honey or sugar for extra preservation, and storing everything in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What is the best way to store fresh fruit salad?

When it comes down to fruit salad storage, Smith has one tried-and-true method she swears by: “Refrigerate your fruit salad in an airtight container and add a layer of paper towel directly on the surface of the salad to minimize air exposure,” says Smith. Aside from prolonging fruit freshness, this also prevents browning for a longer period of time. (If you’re wondering how to keep salad fresh, this works great for greens, too.)

How do you make fruit last longer when cut?

Once you begin fresh fruit preparation and cut your fruit, the countdown begins. To make fresh cut fruit last longer, Smith recommends storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, tossing the fruit with lemon juice (which can slow down oxidation and browning), and—if you want to go the extra mile—utilizing some sweeteners, aka one of the best fruit salad ingredient secrets. “Add a small amount of honey or sugar to the salad for extra preservation,” she says. “The natural sugars can help maintain fruit texture and flavor.”