Do Gooseberries Go Bad?

Gooseberry is a fruit, and people knew it as Amla or grossularia. Gooseberry trees are mostly found in Asia. Gooseberries can be a little bit sour and also sweet. Gooseberries can be found in different colors like green, yellow, red, white, Pink.

Gooseberry bushes are small in size and are ready to harvest in mid-summer. Gooseberry can control your blood sugar, low calories, and high fiber. Apart from its medical benefits, it is enjoyed in desserts, jams, or raw. Due to its high inner moisture, gooseberries can get spoiled easily at room temperature, so it needs to be stored properly.

How To Store Gooseberry

Gooseberries are widely used in different recipes on both commercial and domestic scales. Because they are ready in mid-summers, gooseberries need proper storage, or they will easily get spoiled in a day or two. There are some different methods to store the Gooseberry so that it may last longer.

Room Temperature

Because Gooseberry can easily be spoiled at room temperature, place in an open bucket at room temperature for air circulation between the fruit but be sure not to wash those.

Place the berries in a dark, colder corner of the room. Do not contain them in a container, or they will get rotten and will also catch mold. One can also store half ripen fruit at room temperature, which over time gets ripped and consumable; thus, Gooseberry’s shelf life can be increased a little more.

Refrigeration

Storing gooseberries in the refrigerator is a widely used method at home. The cold and dark environment of the refrigerator increases the life of berries. Mostly, people like to store partially ripen fruit in the refrigerator, which can last a week longer than fully ripened fruit.

You can place the berries in an open bucket and place them in the vegetable compartment. Make sure not to place all on each other, or they will go soft. Look to remove any already rotten gooseberry, or it will affect the rest of the berries.

Freezing

If you are looking to use the berries in a longer time frame, then storing the gooseberries by freezing them is the most preferred method you can use. Just place them in the freezer and wait for 3 – 4 hours to let them freeze. You can place the berries in the freezing bag.

Can You Freeze Gooseberry

Gooseberries are used in multiple dishes. One cannot consume them as soon as they are bought for certain usage. So to make them last longer, the most convenient way is to place them in your freezer, which can make them last for a couple of months.

Before placing the gooseberries in the freezer, make sure you clean them. Remove any stems still attached to the fruit. Clean the fruit with a towel before placing it in the freezing bag. You can also wash them but make sure not to soak berries in water, or they will absorb moisture. Dry the washed berries before freezing them.

How Long Does Gooseberry Last

Gooseberry has low self-life at room temperature or in the kitchen. Soon, it will change its color and taste. Gooseberries can remain the same for up to 1 week at room temperature, but if stored half-ripe, then they may last for two weeks approximately.

Gooseberries can last longer in the refrigerator if stored correctly. A gooseberry may last for ten days approximately in the refrigerator under normal conditions, but some berries, if washed before storage, may last for about five days only. In certain cases, if there are rotten berries in the storage apartment, then they may get rotten, eventually making them last for 3 – 4 days.

Freezing gooseberries can normally make it last for six months. Freezing sliced Gooseberry can last for about three months. Gooseberry’s life span increases when stored at 31 to 32 F, and 95% relative humidity is maintained. However, in a commercial freezer at a very low temperature, they can last until the next harvest.

How To Tell If Gooseberry Is Bad

Gooseberries have a low shelf life and can get expired after a time if not stored correctly. It changes its color, smell and gets soft. Some signs that can save us from consuming one are listed below:

• Appearance: A fresh gooseberry has green color and goes dark purple over time which is a clear indication of rotting. You will see the wrinkles on the skin of the fruit. If contained in an airtight container, then it will develop mold on it. Some berries may become partially rotten and must be looked for carefully.
• Smell: The smell of the Gooseberry will be changed when it is expired and is not consumable. Typically, an expired gooseberry will have a foul smell like or rotting berries.
• Touch: Another sign to check the Gooseberry is touching. Fresh Gooseberry is a little hard. It will be soft from time to time, and when it softens, then it expired.

Sources

• Health Line
• Half Your Plate
• Grow Veg
• Sci Alert