Will chopped up dried fruit still be fine to use after it's been sitting in the fridge for about 3 weeks?
I was making some fruit balls, like raw/bliss type balls. I chopped up some dates (dried), dried apricots, dried apple, and sultanas; I put these in a bowl and poured over a small amount of boiling water to soften them a bit, and stirred in some cocoa powder and a few drops of liquid stevia.
Then I got busy with other things and never made the balls. The mixture has been covered and refrigerated since then, about 3 weeks ago.
Is this still safe to use? I'm thinking the dried fruit would have become partially re-hydrated by the boiling water.
Thanks
Best Answer
The process that preserves fruit in a drying situation is the significant reduction of water activity in the product, which inhibits bacterial growth. It is impossible to know how much you re-hydrated the product, but you certainly increased the water activity significantly. Then, you added other ingredients. All of this increases the potential for bacterial growth.
Of course, refrigeration also slows bacterial growth, however, for me, there are too many unknowns here, from the source and condition of the fruit, to the nature of the additional ingredients and the time between re-hydration and refrigeration. Three days is probably fine. Three weeks would concern me, and I would not recommend use.
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How long can I keep dried fruits in the fridge?
Dried fruit has less moisture than fresh fruit, so it doesn't spoil as quickly, but refrigeration can help it maintain its freshness longer. Keep it in the main compartment of your refrigerator for up to six months.How long does dried fruit keep?
Most dried fruits can be stored for 1 year at 60\xbaF, 6 months at 80\xbaF. Vegetables have about half the shelf-life of fruits. Foods that are packaged seemingly "bone dry" can spoil if moisture is reabsorbed during storage.Is it OK to use out of date dried fruit?
Of course, dried fruit lasts for a shorter period of time if it is not stored properly. But remember that dried fruit, like some other fruits, usually has a best by date and not a use by date or expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely consume dried fruit even after the best before date has lapsed.How long does dried fruit last once opened?
Fruits such as dried apricots, prunes, and raisins will keep at top quality in the pantry for six months. After opening, you may wish to store them tightly sealed in the refrigerator to preserve the quality for up to six additional months or freeze them for one month.Dried Fruit, Cancer and Diabetes?
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