Apples are one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. They grow on small, deciduous trees. The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", addressing the health effects of the fruit, dates from 19th century Wales. According to researchers, apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer.
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Storage: Apples should be crisp and firm. Refrigerate or store in a cool, dark place. You can keep for several weeks. Apples release a gas that makes other fruits ripen more quickly, so if you don’t want your fruit to ripen too fast, keep it away from the apples.
Apricot is a type of juicy fruit belonging to the peach family and is mostly cultivated in cold climatic regions. Apricots vary in taste as some have sweet kernels and some have bitter kernels. They are used in desserts and few are also added to meat dishes.
Turkey is the leading producer of apricots. Laetrile, an alternative treatment for cancer, is extracted from apricot seeds. Apricots are low in calories and rich in dietary fibers.
Delightfully sweet with firm and creamy flesh, bananas come pre-packaged in their own yellow jackets and are available for harvest all through the year. The fruit ripens from deep-green to bright yellow, making it consumable. The commonly cultivated fruit is seedless.
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Purchase Guide: Bananas should be firm, but not too hard, bright in appearance, and free from bruises or other injuries. Their stems and tips should be intact. The size of the banana does not affect its quality, so simply choose the size that best meets your needs.
Storage: While bananas look resilient, they are actually very fragile and care should be taken in their storage. They should be left to ripen at room temperature and should not be subjected to overly hot or cold temperatures. Unripe bananas should not be placed in the refrigerator as this will interrupt the ripening process to such an extent that it will not be able to resume even if the bananas are returned to room temperature.
Eat them before they turn completely brown. You can refrigerate them to slow down their ripening. Their peel continues to darken in the refrigerator, but not their flesh.
Black Grapes aren’t just delicious, they are packed with super nutrients too. They are used in making different kind of beverages, salad, smoothies and cake. Just a handful of black grapes in your daily diet will help you to achieve your nutritional goals.
Blueberry, often regarded as Mother Nature’s super antioxidant, ranks as the second favorite fruit in the world after strawberry. From sweet to tart and tangy, blueberries are grown in clusters and range in a size from a pea to a marble. The fruit turns from pale green to dark blue upon ripening.
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Purchase Guide: Avoid berries that appear dull in color or are soft and watery in texture. They should be free from moisture since the presence of water will cause the berries to decay. When purchasing frozen berries, shake the bag gently to ensure that the berries move freely and are not clumped together, which may suggest that they have been thawed and refrozen.
Storage: Fresh berries are very fragile and should be washed briefly and carefully and then gently patted dry if they are not organic. Wash berries just prior to use to not prematurely remove the protective bloom that resides on the skin's surface. Store blueberries in freeze in a plastic box (not metal).
A small round stoned fruit which grows in bunches. Cherry belongs to the same family of plums, apricots, peaches, etc. It varies from dark red to bright red in color. Mostly eaten raw it is also used in pies and jams. Unlike any other fruit, cherries have a very short fruiting season. Cherries have a hard seed surrounded by edible flesh.
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Purchase Guide: If you possibly can, taste cherries before you buy them.Always look for shiny, plump cherries with fresh green stems and dark coloring for their variety.
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Almost all parts of the coconut palm are useful. Fruit of the coconut palm can be eaten or used in preparation of sweet, chips and savory dishes. Oil and milk derived from this fruit that are widely used in cooking. Water found enclosed inside the coconut shell is considered one of the best summer coolers.
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs. The fruit is a berry which is larger than the leaves of the plant. The fruits are initially white, but they turn deep red when fully ripe. It has a somewhat acidic taste that adds to its sweetness.
A type of stoned fruit that is available fresh or dried and is grown widely in desert areas. Dates are a staple food in the Middle East. They are sweet and chewy. They come in a cylindrical shape and have a wrinkled texture.
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Purchase Guide: Fresh dates can be wrinkled, but they shouldn't feel hard. Look for fresh dates that are plump looking and have a slightly glossy look to their skin. Avoid dates that have crystallized sugar on their skins (a little whiteness is okay, but not actual crystals), since that means they are not quite as fresh as you might like.
Storage: Since they’re mostly sugar, they last a very long time. But store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you plan to use them for 45 days or more.
Dragon Fruit is a nutrient rich fruit as in 100 gram amount it contains 60 calories, 82% carbohydrates, 4% protein, and 11% of the Daily Value each for vitamin C and calcium.
A grape is a type of berry of woody vines that grows in clusters; they can be eaten raw or used to make wine, jam, raisins, vinegar, etc. Grapes are very low in calories. They are also good source of vitamins A, C, K and Carotenes. Grapes contain phyto-chemicals that have been found to have an anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, as well as anti-cancer property.
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Storage: Since grapes tend to spoil and ferment at room temperature, they should always be stored in the refrigerator. Loosely wrap unwashed grapes in a paper towel and place them in an airtight container or plastic bag. This way, they'll keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Green apples are mostly sour in taste. They contain slightly more fiber and less carbohydrates and sugar than red apples. Green apples are better source of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K than red apple.
The guava is a tropical fruit with a rough outer skin and a sweet seedy flesh. It gives off a fragrance which is similar to lemon. The outer skin is green and changes color to either yellow, maroon or green when ripe.
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This purple berry has a unique taste, color and flavor. For its resemblance, jamun is always misinterpreted as blackberrry.
Kiwi fruit or kiwi berry is an edible berry that has a soft texture and a sweet flesh. The fibrous greenish-brown outer portion shields the bright green flesh. The center of the fruit has black tiny edible seeds. Kiwi fruit is now a commercial crop in countries like Italy, France, Greece and New Zealand.
The creamy flesh tastes like a mixture of strawberries and bananas, yet has its own distinct tang.
Lychee is a fruit which has an extremely juicy whitish pulp and is usually eaten fresh. It is very sweet and tarty in taste. The fruit is oval shaped. It has a very enticing floral fragrance.
It is covered with a rough texture which is pink in color and is to be removed before being consumed. It is very popular in China and India. It has an inedible seed. The sweet flavour of the seed is lost when canned; hence its flavour is best relished when eaten fresh.
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Purchase Guide: Look for lychee fruits with a bright red, pebbly textured rind, which indicates that they have reached the proper sugar-to-acid ratio.
Storage: Fresh fruit wrapped in plastic can be kept in a refrigerator for five to seven days and may be kept at room temperature for two or three days.
One of the most popular fruits, Mango is known to be the 'King of Fruits' because of its rich and aromatic flavor. It is the national fruit of India. In India, the green leaves are used ritually as floral decorations.
The outer cover maybe yellow, orange or green depending on the type. The inside flesh is soft yellow, pulpy and juicy with an inedible stone. It is a summer fruit native to the Indian subcontinent. Philippines, Alphonso, Langra, Chaunsa, Dasheri, Totapuri are the most popular varieties of mangoes.
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Purchase Guide: The only mangoes you really need to avoid are ones with noticeable dark spotting, bruising, or any that are super soft.
Storage: If your mangoes are still a bit unripened, place them in a paper bag in a warm place, which will help them ripen within two days. However, you can also choose to keep unripened mangoes at room temperature, which will take them about a week to ripen. Keep ripen mangoes in freeze only.
A fruit belonging to the berry family. The fruits turn pink to dark purple or black. It is about 2-3 cm long and has a sweet, tarty flavor. They get their color from a chemical called anthocyanins which is a great antioxidant.
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Purchase Guide: In the local stores, look for fleshy berries flavorful and heavy in hands. Avoid bruised, bleeding and sunken berries.
Storage: Mulberries spoil rather quickly. Once at home, preserve them in a zip pouch unwashed, and place inside the refrigerator where they stay fresh for up to 2-3 days. To eat, wash the berries in cold water in a container (bowl) instead of in running water. This way, you avoid injuring them. This method also brings the berries to room temperature and enhances their flavor and taste.
Muskmelon is a sweet, flavorful fruit that's known for its vibrant flesh and culinary versatility. It provides a wealth of important nutrients and has been associated with many health benefits.
Orange is a citrus fruit that can be sweet or bitter. Brazil is the world's largest producer of oranges. It is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia. It is a winter fruit that is available mostly in colder climate but now it can be seen most of the year.
Its consumption is the healthiest when eaten sitting in the morning sun, as it gives a complete set of nutrients essential for the body. It is very good for curing cold.
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Purchase Guide: Fresh oranges have bright color, devoid of any wrinkles on the skin, should feel heavy for their size, and impart sweet aroma. Avoid any overtly soften fruits with spots and mold as they tend to perish early.
Storage: Oranges can either be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator, depending upon your preference. They will generally last the same amount of time, two weeks with either method, and will retain nearly the same level of their vitamin content. The best way to store oranges is loose rather than wrapped in a plastic bag since if exposed to moisture, they can easily develop mold.
It is a tropical fruit that has a sweet taste, soft texture and are pear shaped. It is native to southern Mexico and Central America. The black seeds of papaya are actually edible and have a peppery taste. Young papaya contains papain and hence has been used as a meat tenderizer for centuries now.
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Purchase Guide: Choose papayas that have reddish-orange skin and are slightly soft to the touch. Those that have patches of yellow color will take a few more days to ripen.
Storage: Ripe papayas should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within one or two days. Unripe Papayas (partially yellow) should be left at room temperature where they will ripen in a few days.
Peach is a type of fruit that comes from the deciduous peach tree native to China and South Asia. Peaches are seen with high regard in Chinese culture. In many other cultures, peaches have got historical significance. The fruit is in the size of a small apple. It is usually yellow or whitish in color and has a velvety or a very smooth texture with a juicy pulp.
Peach is also available in red and pink colors. It has a single seed and is oval shaped about 1.3-2 cm long. China is the world's largest producer of peaches.
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Storage: Peaches can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple more days, but eat them before they start to get wrinkly, which is a sign that they are starting to dry out.
Belonging to the member of rose family, pear is a fruit that is juicy and can have a mildly acidic to sweet taste. It typically has a rounded body that tapers into a neck. Pears are available in different forms: fresh, dried, canned or in the form of juice.
The fruit is available in variety of colors from green to brown. They are used majorly in desserts and are a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C.
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Purchase Guide: Look for pears that are firm, but not too hard. They should have a smooth skin that is free of bruises or mold. The color of good quality pears may not be uniform as some may feature resetting where there are brown-speckled patches on the skin; this is an acceptable characteristic and oftentimes reflects a more intense flavor. Avoid pears that are punctured or have dark soft spots.
Storage: Place them in the refrigerator where they will remain fresh for a few days.Storing pears in sealed plastic bags or restricted spaces where they are in too close proximity to each other should be avoided since they will have limited exposure to oxygen, and the ethylene gas that they naturally produce will greatly increase their ripening process, causing them to degrade. Pears should also be stored away from other strong smelling foods, whether on the counter top on in the refrigerator, as they tend to absorb smells.
It is a sweet juicy fruit native to South America. They are grown from March to June but can be found all year around. It is consumed in a variety of ways but raw pineapple is the most nutritious as it is rich in magnesium and vitamin C.
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Red or dark red round fruit with a stone, which is sweet but the skin and around the stone is very sour. Mature plums have a dusty-white coating that gives them a glaucous appearance; this can easily be rubbed off though. Dried plums are sometimes known as prunes. They are also called as 'drupes' fruits with a hard stone pit surrounding the seed.
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Storage: If your plums are slightly hard, you can keep them at room temperature in a paper bag to continue to ripen (about one to two days), but once they are slightly soft at the end, you'll want to put them in the refrigerator to prevent them from over-ripening. Fresh plums can keep in the refrigerator for about two to three days.
It is a juicy fruit that is grown from March to May in the southern hemisphere, though it can be found all year round as well. It is native to Persia but is not grown all over the world. The fruit and the bark are known to have been used in the cure for diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites.
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Purchase Guide: Unripe pomegranates are round, like apples. However, their shape changes slightly as the fruit ripens and the juice-filled seeds begin to expand outward and press against the insides of the pomegranates. A ripe pomegranate will have more of a square shape because the sides will be flattened (instead of rounded).
Storage: Pomegranates can be preserved at room temperature in case you intend to consume them immediately. If not, they can be stored in the fridge for at least 3 weeks.
But after removing the seeds from your pomegranate, you can store them in the refrigerator for five to seven days. Be sure, however, to seal them tightly in a container or plastic bag before storing them.
Widely appreciated for its distinctive aroma, fiery red color and juicy taste, strawberry is everybody's favorite fruit. They are red, juicy and have a conical shape. Strawberries belong to the rose family and are essentially grown for the fruit.
Strawberries come in various shapes, sizes and colors; some are even off-white or yellow in color. Though available all through the year, the best berries are available from April to June.
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Purchase Guide: Choose berries that are firm, plump, free of mold, and which have a shiny, deep red color and attached green caps.Avoid those that are dull in color or have green or yellow patches since they are likely to be sour and of inferior quality. Full ripe berries have the peak flavor and texture.
Storage: If you are buying strawberries prepackaged in a container, make sure that they are not packed too tightly (which may cause them to become crushed and damaged) and that the container has no signs of stains or moisture, indication of possible spoilage.
Before storing in the refrigerator, remove any strawberries that are molded or damaged so that they will not contaminate others. Place the unwashed and unhulled berries in a sealed container to prevent unnecessary loss of humidity. Strawberries will maintain excellent nutrient content if properly stored in a refrigerator for two days. Make sure not to leave strawberries at room temperature or exposed to sunlight for too long, as this will cause them to spoil.
Belonging to the same family as cucumber, pumpkin and gourd, watermelon is actually a vegetable. It is, however, consumed as a fruit for it juicy flesh. Watermelon holds almost 92% water content and is considered an ideal health food.
The red or pink flesh is secured by thick green rinds that are either spotted or striped. Watermelon can be oblong or spherical in shape. The ideal size of a watermelon can vary from a few pounds up to 90 pounds.
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