Per USDA FoodKeeper
On the counterCounter
2 hours
1 hour if above 90°F
In the fridgeFridge
4 days
at or below 40°F (4°C)
In the freezerFreezer
Not recommended
texture or safety suffers
On the counterCounter
Not recommended
keep it cold
In the fridgeFridge
Use-by date
follow the package date
In the freezerFreezer
Not recommended
texture or safety suffers
Quick answer
Yes. Cut fruit lasts 4 days in the fridge. After that, or sooner if stored badly, it spoils: watch for the signs below.
How to tell if cut fruit is bad
Smell
Fermented, sour or musty odour.
Texture
Soft, mushy or leaking spots, or wrinkled skin with soft flesh.
Colour
Dark bruising that spreads, or browning inside.
Mould
White, grey or green fuzz — discard soft produce; cut firm produce generously.
Cut fruit past the expiration date
Unopened
FoodKeeper gives unopened cut fruit use-by date in the fridge, counted from the day you buy it. "Best-by" and "sell-by" describe quality and stock rotation, not safety; only infant formula carries a federally required use-by date.
Opened
Once opened, the printed date no longer applies. Count 4 days in the fridge from the day you open it.
How to keep cut fruit fresh longer
- Store unwashed; wash just before eating.
- Keep ethylene producers (apples, bananas, avocados) away from produce that over-ripens.
- Refrigerate once cut, in a covered container.
More about cut fruit
FAQ
How long does it take for cut fruit to go bad?
4 days in the fridge, per USDA FoodKeeper. At room temperature, 2 hours.
Can cut fruit expire?
FoodKeeper gives unopened cut fruit use-by date in the fridge, counted from the day you buy it. "Best-by" and "sell-by" describe quality and stock rotation, not safety; only infant formula carries a federally required use-by date.
What happens if you eat bad cut fruit?
Spoiled perishable food can cause food poisoning: nausea, vomiting, cramps or diarrhoea. See a doctor if symptoms are severe or last more than a few days.
How do you keep cut fruit from going bad?
Store unwashed; wash just before eating.
Numbers on this page come from USDA FoodKeeper and FSIS guidance. Last verified November 2026. How we verify our data · Report a wrong number