There is a way to keep plums fresher for longer and it is a golden rule that you should follow if you have the fruit in your home. Plums are a deliciousy sweet and soft fruit that are a favourite for many Brits. They are enjoyed on their own on a sunny day or can be incoporated into many desserts and even salads. To keep them fresh, there is one trick that you should know about and it makes it quite unique from other fruits you probably have in your kitchen.
One of the things to know about storing plums you bought from the supermarket is when to leave them out of the fridge and when to place them into the fridge to make them last as long as they can. Plums will need to be ripened outside of the fridge. Only when they have fully ripened is when you place them inside the fridge. Plums will stay fresh and edible if they are kept at room temperature, but placing them in the fridge once they have ripened is your best bet when it comes to making them last as long as they can.
“Once ripe, plums will keep at room temperature for around three to four days,” says BBC Good Food.
“Or, store them in the fridge in a perforated bag for up to five days.”
You can store your plums in a bag in your fridge or in the crisper drawer along with other fruits and vegetables.
If you want to make them last even longer and save them for the near future, then freezing plums is also an options. However, you will need to cut them in half and remove the stone from the centre. They will keep in the freezer for around six months, meraning you can save them for when you have a recipe that calls for plums.
If you want to ripen your plums before placing them in the fridge, then you can place them in a paper bag to speed up the process. You will know when they are ripe when they are slightly soft to touch.
If you put plums in the fridge too early, then they won’t get a chance to ripen properly. If you want to let them ripen in their own time and you’re not in a rush, you can place them in a bowl instead of in a paper bag before they go in the fridge.
You will know when plums are ripe because of their fragrant smell as well as their slightly softened texture. Plus, the skin begins to appear slightly dusty as the plum ripens, another indicator that they might be ready to be placed in the fridge.
