Pre-cut fruit in a bag or container: how fresh is it?
These days, if you want to grab something to snack on or indulge in on-the-go, you can buy a bag or container of pre-cut fruit in many places. And that’s definitely always healthier than wolfing down a KitKat or a bag of Doritos at the bus stop! But it’s even better to simply eat an apple or a banana (or a kiwi now that you know you don’t necessarily have to peel it!). And have you ever wondered how fresh a fruit salad like that actually is?
Because for some mysterious reason, the fruit in a pre-packaged container seems to stay good all day, without turning brown like a cut-open avocado the moment you look away for two minutes (and even while you’re looking at it). How is that possible?
Smart techniques
Keuringsdienst van Waarde investigated this and tells us that it has to do, on the one hand, with the innovative rapid processing method and, on the other, with the possible bath of antioxidants and vitamin C (for example, E302 calcium sorbate) in which some fruit is dipped. There is also little oxygen sealed into the containers and bags, so oxidation (and therefore browning and wilting) will not occur as quickly.
You have to make some concessions
And yes, these techniques also mean that such a container can be stored for quite a long time. So it isn’t necessarily fresh when you grab it from the shelf after a few days. But according to Keuringsdienst van Waarde, pre-cut fruit that ‘is kept refrigerated loses only 10 to 25 percent of its vitamin C and antioxidants in 5 to 6 days’. I think 25 percent is quite a lot… But still, it’s healthier than that frikandel roll!
Choose the best option
Once again, as we wrote earlier in our article about why it’s better to peel and/or cut your own fruit and vegetables: if such a bag or container means you do get your daily healthy amount of fruit and vegetables, you should buy it. But if you can, it’s of course better to prepare it yourself (which can be as easy as holding an apple under the tap).
Also read:
- 7 food packages that urgently need to be improved
- 10 totally pointless plastic supermarket packages
- How to make frozen green beans that actually taste good
