Do Goji Berries Go Bad?

Wolfberry, also known as goji berry, is a unique red fruit, and you will find it in almost every part of the world. It is mostly used in dried form, and it is also eaten raw and can be used in many dishes and salads. It has a sweet and sour taste, and it is loved by everyone who tries it.

If you have a packet of goji berry sitting in the pantry for a couple of years and you are confused whether to use it or not, and you would be thinking, does goji berry go bad? Despite having a long shelf life, goji berry can go bad quickly if you will not place them in good conditions. Today in this article, we will discuss some amazing facts about goji berry, and we hope that it would be helpful for you.

How to Store Goji Berry?

Storing is the first thing that you should take care of to keep the food fresh for a long time. It is because the shelf life of the goji berry or other eatables directly depends on the storage. So, you should store goji berry properly after you buy it and take it to your home.

Despite having a long shelf life, goji berry still needs a suitable place to last for a long time, and if you store it in poor conditions, it will not be able to complete its lifespan, and it will go bad quite early.

If you don’t know how to store goji berry, then you can follow the tips to store goji berry that we have discussed below:

Place in a cool and dark place

Goji berries come in sealed packages with the best by date labeled on it. They can last for a long time in the sealed package and will not go bad after passing the best by date. As long as the package remains unopened, you can store it anywhere at room temperature.

The best place to store the goji berries in the pantry or the cupboard of your kitchen. You can also store it on the countertop or in the kitchen for a long time.

Keep away from heat sources

Goji berries have high sugar content, and they can become soft in summer or hot environments. Due to high temperature and high sugar content, there will be more chances for the bacteria to grow. To avoid bacterial formation and keep Goji berries safe, you should never place them in high temperatures, direct sunlight, or near any heat sources.

Keep them sealed

As long as the Goji berries remain packed in a container, there will be no harm to them, but once you open the package, the lifetime of Goji berries will decrease due to the increase in oxidation rate. So, you should always keep them sealed by storing them in a jar or airtight containers to decrease the rate of oxidation.

Store in refrigerator

If the surrounding temperature is hot and you are afraid of the bacterial formation in the Goji berries, you can store them in the refrigerator, where they can last for a long time.

Can You Freeze Goji Berry?

To keep the Goji berries safe and fresh for a long time after opening their package, you can store them in the freezer, and they also freeze very well. If you have opened the package of Goji berries and you have used some amount of it, and you are confused about where to store the rest, store it in the freezer.

Freezing will protect the Goji berries and keep them fresh for months.  Before freezing them, transfer them in freezer bags or airtight containers.

How Long Does Goji Berry Last?

Goji berries are shelf-stable, and they come with the best by date labeled on their package. In addition, the expiry date of Goji berries as labeled on their package comes almost after two years. So, that means Goji berries are shelf-stable and can last for a couple of years and more after expiry.

Once you open the package, oxidation will take place, and the shelf life of Goji berries will decrease. Now you will have to store them properly. An opened package of Goji berries can only last for three months at room temperature if you store them properly. You can extend their shelf life to six months by storing them in the freezer.

How to Tell If Goji Berry Is Bad?

Goji berries show many common signs of spoilage after going bad, and it becomes very easy to differentiate between fresh and spoiled wolfberry. Spoiled Goji berries have a different taste, texture, and color from the fresh ones.

• Goji berries should have a bright red color; if you notice a change in their color, you should not use them.
• Goji berries are firm to touch, and if they turn softer and mushier in texture, then it’s time to replace them with fresh ones.
• Goji berries have a sweet and sour taste, but if they taste bitter, then it means that they have gone bad.

Sources

• Super Food Sanctuary
• Unio-Sure
• Nourish