Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that is grown mostly in the southern part of Asia. This fruit is the largest fruit in the world. Besides growing to an enormous size, it’s known for having distinctive characteristics such as the spiky green rind and musty aroma. Jackfruit is one of those fruits that doesn’t last long due to its high sugary content. Therefore, most people will wonder how long does jackfruit last?
How long does jackfruit last? At room temperature, it will about 2 to 3 days. Jackfruit that is stored in the fridge can last up to a week. If it’s stored in the freezer, it can last up to a month.
Jackfruit Shelf Life
| Pantry/Room Temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Jackfruit will last | 1 Month | Not Recommended | Not Recommended |
| Cut Jackfruit will last | 4 Hours | 1 Week | 1 Month |
How Long Does Jackfruit Last?
If you’ve seen or bought a whole jackfruit before, you’ll notice how big they can get! Therefore, most people will not be able to consume the whole fruit in one sitting. With this fruit, due to their high content of sugar in their flesh, they tend not to last very long once it’s opened. So it’s important to know how long they last if it’s stored at room temperature, in the fridge, or in the freezer.
At room temperature, fresh uncut jackfruit will last up to a month. Usually, within a month, the fruit will start to ripen and expose the pods inside. Once that happens, the quality of the fruit will start to decrease slowly due to bacteria and oxidation from the air.
For fresh-cut jackfruit, it can last between 2-3 days at room temperature. However, when the temperature gets really hot, it will not last that long and could go bad in a day. Heat is the main factor for jackfruit going bad quickly. Therefore, it’s important to keep them away from heat as much as possible.
Since an entire jackfruit will not fit in the fridge, you’ll be more than likely need to cut them into smaller pieces. Once the jackfruit is in the fridge, due to the cooler temperature, it will usually last up to a week.
In the freezer, jackfruit will last about a month or so. The fruit has such high content of liquids in them then they can easily get freezer burn. If you need to store them for longer than a month, vacuum sealing them should give you more storage time.
How to Store Jackfruit
Jackfruit is usually best when it’s consumed fresh, but since the fruit is really big, you may need to store them to use later. Jackfruit goes bad really quickly if it’s not stored properly so it’s important you know where and how to store them.
Jackfruit that is consumed within 3 days can be left at room temperature. However, you’ll have to be careful with the temperature. The warmer the room is, the faster they can spoil. In addition, when storing them outside whether it’s on the kitchen counter or the pantry, wrap them with a cling wrapper to prevent bugs and other pests from eating it.
For jackfruit that hasn’t been cut open yet, it can be left at room temperature for up to a month. Just be sure to keep them away from direct sunlight. If it’s in direct sunlight for a long time, it could ripen. Once it ripens, the rind of the jackfruit will start to crack and the pods will be exposed to air. Once it does, the fruit will usually go bad within a couple of days unless it’s stored in the fridge.
If it’s going to be longer than a couple of days, it’s best to store them in the fridge. The colder the temperature, the longer the fruit will last. Since jackfruit is too large and heavy to put into a fridge, it’s best to slice them into smaller pieces. Once you’ve sliced them, wrap them with a cling wrapper around the entire fruit. It’s important the flesh of the jackfruit is covered completely as the moisture and air in the fridge could cause them to go bad prematurely.
Jackfruit that is stored in the fridge should be consumed within a week. After that time, the fruit will still be safe to eat, but the quality of the fruit will slowly decrease. If you noticed that the fruit seems soft and a bit watery, but no signs of mold or bad smell, you may not want to eat due to its appearance. Instead, you can use it in a smoothie or making a delicious dessert.
If you’re planning to store jackfruit longer than a week, the freezer is the best option to store them.
Can You Freeze Jackfruit?
Jackfruit is a seasonal fruit which means that it isn’t available all year round. Therefore, most people will freeze them for later uses.
Jackfruit is a delicate fruit that needs to be handled and stored properly in the freezer. Without proper storage, the fruit will go bad quickly as the fruit contains a high content of water.
Jackfruit as a whole can’t be frozen due to their size. Even if you decide to cut the fruit in half, you’ll have a hard time freezing them due to their size.
Instead, the best way to freeze jackfruit is by freezing their pods. Their pods contain a seed that’s wrapped by soft flesh. It’s recommended to freeze the pods without removing the seeds. The seed helps hold their structure and prevent the flesh from collapsing when it thaw.
Once the fruit is frozen, it should stay frozen. If for some reason it defrosts, the fruit will turn soggy and it will not be good to eat anymore.
The temperature to keep them fresh should be kept at 0°Fahrenheit or lower. It’s best to consume the fruit within a month or so. However, it can last much longer than that and safe to eat, but the taste quality will decrease.
How To Freeze Jackfruit
Freezing jackfruit will keep them fresh for a long time, but you’ll need to prep them correctly. Depending on the state of the product before freezing, there are a couple of different ways to freeze them.
For the whole jackfruit, there no prepping needed for them before it goes in the freezer. The thick and tough rind will help preserve the freshness of the fruit.
Since jackfruit is too big to fit in a typical home freezer, you’ll want to cut them into smaller pieces first. Slice them into sizes that can fit your freezer. Then take a cling wrap or aluminum foil and cover the parts that are not covered by the rind. Once all the exposed parts are covers, but the whole thing into the freezer.
As for canned jackfruit, it’s not recommended to freeze it in its original packaging. Over time, as the liquid freezes in the can, the can could break due to the liquid expansion. Instead, get an airtight container that’s made for freezer usage. Pour the fruit and it’s original liquid in the container and leaves about an inch of space at the top for the liquid to expand. Then, close the lid and label the container and put it in the freezer.
For fresh jackfruit pods, get an airtight container and place the pods along with the seeds inside into the container. Leave a small space at the top to prevent crushing them when the lid is closed.
Besides an airtight container, you can use a freezer bag to store jackfruit pods as well. After putting the pods in the bag, squeeze as much air as you can out of the bag. Then seal the bag and label it. Move it to the freezer and let it freeze completely first before putting anything on it.
How To Tell If Jackfruit Is Bad?
Jackfruit should be firm, be vibrant yellow, and without any dark patches or spots. When it goes bad, there are a couple of signs to look out for.
As for the texture, jackfruit that is bad will usually be soggy, watery, and have dark spots all over it. You may also notice a white sticky substance around the pods. If the fruit is bad, the sticky substances will be watery and it won’t stick to your hands. If you notice any of this, the entire fruit should be discarded.
When it comes to the smells, jackfruit has a strong musty aroma. When jackfruit goes bad, it will give off a fermented smell. If you notice the smell is off, it’s best to throw the fruit away.
Jackfruit is one of those fruits that go bad quickly due to the high amount of water and sugary content it has. Therefore, when it’s exposed to air and warm temperature, it will begin to go bad.
Related Questions
How do you get remove sticky residue from jackfruit?
Coat your hands with baby oil or cooking oil and let it soak for a couple of minutes. Then wipe off the oil with dish soap. If there is still some residue left on your hand, scrub it off with some baking soda.
Are jackfruit and durian the same?
Durian and jackfruit may seem the same, but they aren’t related to each other. Durian originated in Southeast Asia, while Jackfruit originated in India. Jackfruit has a sweeter taste to it and it doesn’t have the same smell or taste as the durian fruit.
As for appearance, durian is smaller than jackfruit. If you feel the skin of both fruit, durian has a sharp thorn on its skin, while jackfruit has soft thorns.
Can jackfruit seed be eaten?
Yes, the jackfruit seed can be eaten and it’s actually very nutritious. To eat the seeds, you must boil them first for about 30 minutes.