Fruit salad is a delicious, healthy treat in the summertime. It’s perfect as a cool afternoon snack, and it’s sweet enough to serve for dessert. But some fruits oxidize and turn brown as soon as they’re cut, turning a delicious-looking treat into a questionable appearance. So how do you keep fruit salad fresh? By preventing the cut fruit from turning brown!
How to Keep Fruit Salad Fresh
Orange Juice or Pineapple Juice
The easiest way to keep fruit salad fresh without any extra effort is to use an acidic juice. Orange juice and pineapple juice are our favorites because they have a nice sweet-tart balance that adds a fresh note to the fruit salad. Meanwhile, the acid in the juice prevents fruits like apples and pears from turning brown in the mix. This method is as easy as tossing cut fruit in a few tablespoons of orange juice.
You can also use orange juice to create a dressing for your fruit salad. Combine 1/3 cup thawed orange juice concentrate with 1/2 cup honey, 1 tablespoon canola oil and 1 tablespoon poppy seeds. Pour the dressing over your favorite fruits, like strawberries, grapes, pineapple, apples, navel oranges and sliced bananas.
Simple Syrup
This fruit-saving hack is a great option if you want to amp up the sweet vibes of your fruit salad. Simply combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup white sugar in a small saucepan. Add two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice (or lime juice, if you want to create a tropical flair). Feel free to add fresh herbs like mint, if you like. Heat the mixture for a few minutes over medium heat, until the sugar is dissolved. Then, transfer it to the fridge to cool.
While the syrup chills, prepare the fruit for your favorite fruit salad. We recommend tart fruits for this one, like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and pineapple. Pour the syrup over the fruit, toss it together and enjoy!
Acidulated Water
If you don’t want to add extra flavor to your fruit salad, Taste of Home food editor Rashanda Cobbins suggests using acidulated water. A quick dunk in a combination of acid and water keeps the fruit from turning brown without changing its flavor profile.
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of water with 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice (or 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar). Dip the cut fruit into the water until it’s completely coated before removing it to a mixing bowl. This method works especially well for fruit salads featuring apples or pears.
Sprite or 7-Up
Taste of Home Deputy Editor James Schend suggests tossing fruits like apples, pears and peaches in Sprite or 7-Up to help stop browning. How does that work? Well, soda is essentially a strong, sparkling simple syrup, so the sugars in the soda coat the cut edges and keep the fruit from oxidizing. You can take this one to the next level and create sparkling fruit salad, which is super refreshing on a hot summer day.
Dressing
Old-fashioned fruit salad recipes often call for a dressing made from heavy whipping cream, mayonnaise or sour cream. These thick dressings keep the fruit from oxidizing by preventing them from being exposed to oxygen. Have some fun with this modern company fruit salad, or go old-school and add marshmallows to the mix (like we do in this cranberry ambrosia salad recipe).
The Best Way to Store Fruit Salad
It’s best to store fruit salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These containers create the perfect level of moisture and humidity for cut fruit, helping the pieces stay fresher for longer. We also love using these reusable silicone bags to create individual portions that are easy to grab and go for lunch.
If you’re adding bananas to your fruit salad, we recommend keeping them out of the storage container. Instead, slice them right before serving. No matter which method you use to keep fruit salad fresh, the bananas will get mushy in the fridge overnight.
How Long Does Fruit Salad Last?
Fruit salad tastes best when enjoyed within three days, but it will last up to five days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If you’re planning to save leftover fruit salad, it’s important to transfer the container to the refrigerator as quickly as possible after cutting and mixing the fruit. Fruit salad that has been left at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded.
Pina Colada Fruit Salad
Give friends a taste of the tropics on warm summer days with this refreshing fruit blend. For a little extra punch, you might add a splash of coconut rum. —Carol Farnsworth, Greenwood, Indiana
Melon-Berry Salad
The best way to cool down on a warm day is with a chilled fruit salad. Serve this one for breakfast, brunch or dessert. Yogurt and coconut milk make the creamy dressing even more decadent. Wait until just before serving to garnish the salad. Otherwise the toasted coconut will get soggy. —Carrie Hirsch, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Sparkling Fruit Salad
Pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, strawberries and grapes are treated to a dressing of wine and sparkling club soda in this delightful salad. Serve in dessert dishes or set the whole bowl on the table for a fetching presentation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Refreshing Tropical Fruit Salad
Want a family-friendly side dish? This colorful medley is kid-pleasing and a great way to encourage healthy eating. —Sharon Ricci, Spooner, Wisconsin
Blood Orange Avocado Salad
My refreshing side salad is such a nice addition to our calorie-loaded Thanksgiving dinner. Use regular oranges if you can't find blood oranges. Finely chopped walnuts work well in place of the pomegranate seeds, too. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Minted Fruit Salad
Filled with the season’s best and freshest fruit, this salad shouts summer. The hint of mint adds a refreshing note to the colorful compote.—Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Fruit with Poppy Seed Dressing
Cool, colorful and easy to prepare, this refreshing, good-for-you fruit salad is a springtime favorite. —Peggy Mills, Texarkana, Arkansas
South-of-the-Border Citrus Salad
Orange, grapefruit and jicama add color and texture to this out-of-the-ordinary fruit salad. Sometimes I'll toss in slices of mango and cucumber for extra fun. —Mary Fuller, SeaTac, Washington
Pear-Blueberry Ambrosia with Creamy Lime Dressing
This dessert is delicious and decadent, yet is chock-full of healthy fruit with a creamy lime dressing; the blueberries provide a lovely pop of color. —Laura Stricklin, Jackson, Mississippi
Minty Pineapple Fruit Salad
Fresh mint adds bright flavor to this easy, quick and low-fat pineapple salad. Give it a berry twist by using blueberries and raspberries in place of the grapes, but don't forget the secret dressing ingredient—lemonade! —Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas
Avocado Fruit Salad with Tangerine Vinaigrette
On long summer days when we just want to relax, I make a cool salad with avocado, berries and mint. The tangerine dressing is refreshingly different. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
Two-Berry Fluff Salad
This fluffy salad is a welcome treat on warm Texas afternoons. Because there's a blueberry orchard near our home, we often pick up berries to use in this recipe and others. When blueberries and strawberries aren't in season, you can substitute frozen berries with equally good results. —Karen Wenzel, Conroe, Texas
Company Fruit Salad
We first tried a cream cheese fruit salad like this at a local deli. Since I couldn't get that recipe, I started mixing up different dressings until I hit on this one. Now I make this refreshing delightful salad for every picnic and get-to-gether. It can be a snack, side dish or dessert. —Connie Osterhout, Napoleon, Ohio
Berry Nectarine Salad
I've been making this recipe for years. Whenever my family has a summer get-together, everyone requests it. The nectarines and berries look beautiful together, and the topping is the perfect accent. —Mindee Myers, Lincoln, Nebraska
Pineapple & Coconut Carrot Salad
I enjoyed a salad like this at a tropical-inspired restaurant. I tried to get the staff to give me the recipe but had no luck. So I went home and created my own! I will sometimes drain a can of mandarin orange slices and toss those in as well. —Shirley Turpin, Williams, Minnesota
Crunchy Apple Side Salad
With fiber-rich fruit, light dressing and crunchy walnuts, this is a great side dish or snack. Try it with low-fat granola. —Kathy Armstrong, Post Falls, Idaho
Tangy Poppy Seed Fruit Salad
For a fruit salad that’s delightful, we combine berries and citrus with a honey-lime dressing flecked with poppy seeds. —Carrie Howell, Lehi, Utah
Minty Watermelon Salad
My four year old twin grandchildren love to cook and create in the kitchen with me. Last summer, the three of us were experimenting with watermelon and cheese and that's where this recipe began. It's ideal for neighborhood gatherings and picnics, or as a healthy snack on a hot summer day. —Gwendolyn Vetter, Rogers, Minnesota
Color It Ruby Salad
Just looking at this bright red salad cheers me up—and then I get to taste it! For garnish, sprinkle on fresh chives and mild white cheese. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Glazed Fruit Medley
The orange dressing on this salad complements the fresh fruit flavors beautifully. It’s perfect for a spring or summer brunch. —Karen Bourne, Magrath, Alberta
Blueberry Cantaloupe Salad
The simple citrus and poppy seed dressing in this fruit medley really dresses up the refreshing mix of berries and melon. —R. Jean Rand, Edina, Minnesota
Creamy Pineapple Fluff Salad
Guests of all ages will gravitate to this traditional “fluff” salad, chock-full of pineapple, marshmallows and cherry bits. —Janice Hensley, Owingsville, Kentucky
Apple Pecan Salad
I remember being excited right before Thanksgiving and Christmas, because that's when my family made this salad. There were five children and only the oldest helped peel the apples. It was fun when one of our boyfriends would come for the holiday for the first time. My dad would give him a huge bowl of grapes, hand him a sharp paring knife and tell him to start peeling. We all kept a straight face until he had the first grape peeled. —Debra Slone, Crossville, Tennessee
Watermelon Tomato Salad
Watermelon and tomatoes may seem an unlikely pair, but they team up to make a winning combination in this eye-catching salad. —Matthew Denton, Seattle, Washington
Honey-Lime Berry Salad
I picked up this dish a couple of years ago, and really like the mint and fruit combo. Cilantro is one of my summer favorites so sometimes I use it instead. Turns out, this recipe's really two in one! —Kayla Spence, Wilber, Nebraska
Swift Strawberry Salad
A simple blend of syrup, orange juice and caramel topping forms the light dressing for the fresh berries and the crunchy cashews found in this sensational salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Brunch Fruit Salad
This appealing fruit salad is a lovely addition to breakfast, lunch or even supper. Light and refreshing, it's perfect alongside egg bakes, sausages and other hearty staples you find on breakfast buffets. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois
Mint Watermelon Salad
I invented this refreshing fruit salad one sultry afternoon while my friends were gathered around my pool. It was quick to prepare and disappeared from their plates even quicker. Even the kids loved it! —Antoinette DuBeck, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Sangria Gelatin Ring
This gelatin is enjoyed by everyone because you just can't go wrong with fresh berries. —Nicole Nemeth, Komoka, Ontario
Honey-Melon Salad with Basil
Put the taste of summer in your salad! Loaded with juicy cantaloupe and honeydew, and glazed with a sweet honey dressing, this dish will be gone in minutes. Watermelon is a tasty addition, too. —Khurshid Shaik, Omaha, Nebraska
Creamy Grape Salad
Everyone raves when I bring this refreshing, creamy grape salad to potlucks. For a special finishing touch, sprinkle it with brown sugar and pecans. —Marge Elling, Jenison, Michigan
Layered Fresh Fruit Salad
People always pass on compliments when I take this salad to covered-dish suppers. It's nice on a hot day...with a winter meal...or as a dessert! We live on a small farm where my garden gives me lots of possibilities for fresh food. —Page Alexander, Baldwin City, Kansas
Honey-Yogurt Berry Salad
I wanted my family to eat more fruit but not more sugary ingredients. This berry salad lets you play with different low-fat yogurts and fruits. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Mojito Marinated Fruit
All the flavors of the popular mojito cocktail are featured in this fantastic salad. After you eat the fruit, you’ll want to sip the luscious syrup! —Marcy Griffith, Excelsior, Minnesota
Cranberry Waldorf Salad
Cranberries grow in the coastal area about 50 miles from our home. When they become available, I always make this creamy salad. —Faye Huff, Longview, Washington
Fresh Fruit Bowl
The glorious colors of the fruit make this a festive salad. Slightly sweet and chilled, it makes a nice accompaniment to a grilled entree. —Marlon Kirst, Troy, Michigan
Lime-Honey Fruit Salad
Nothing is more refreshing to me than a seasonal fruit salad enhanced with this simple honey-lime dressing. —Victoria Shevlin, Cape Coral, Florida
Fluffy Cranberry Delight
This was originally my daughter's recipe, and she or I will make it for one or more of our holiday get-togethers. It can be served as a fruit salad along with the meal or as a light dessert. It's particularly pretty in a cut-glass bowl on a buffet. —Ruth Bolduc, Conway, New Hampshire
Overnight Fruit Salad
I first tasted this rich, old-fashioned fruit salad at my wedding reception many years ago. The ladies who did the cooking wouldn't share the recipe at the time, but I eventually got it. I've made it for many meals, and our daughters copied the recipe when they married. —Eileen Duffeck, Lena, Wisconsin
Aunt Marion's Fruit Salad Dessert
Aunt Marion, my namesake, is like a grandma to me. She gave me this luscious salad recipe, which goes to all our family reunions, hunt club suppers and snowmobile club picnics...and I go home with no leftovers! —Marion LaTourette, Honesdale, PennsylvaniaThe post How to Keep Fruit Salad Fresh appeared first on Taste of Home.
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