Star fruit, also known as carambola, is an acidic fruit that transversely has a star shape, being the origin of its name, but that is history and what I want to teach you is how to store star fruits.
You can store the star fruits for a week at room temperature. If you refrigerate them, they can last you between 1 and 2 weeks, and if you freeze them, they will remain for 10 or 12 months.
Next, I explain more broadly how to preserve star-fruits correctly.
How to store star fruit at room temperature
When the star fruits are left at room temperature, it is usually done to finish ripening. You can place the star fruits in a basket, bowl, or non-airtight bag to do this.
Then, you can store them in a place where it does not stick light directly and stays dry and cool. You can cover them with a clean towel if you do not have a lid, but you must leave the air passage free to breathe and mature.
I do not advise you to wash them as moisture could generate mold or other unwanted microorganisms that will damage the carambola. However, you should also turn the star fruits daily; otherwise, it could damage that fruit due to its weight.
If the star fruit is green, it can be at room temperature for a week. On the other hand, if it is primarily yellow or with brown ridges or edges, I recommend storing them in the refrigerator. [1]
Mature star fruits will last up to 2 or 3 days at room temperature.
How to store star fruit in the fridge
If the star fruits you bought or harvested have a yellow tone, it is best to refrigerate them. For this, you will have to do the following.
- Step 1: Clean the star fruits.
Please do not wash them; better pass a cloth moistened with a liquid prepared with two parts of water and one of vinegar, and then proceed to rub them and remove the dirt.
Then, pass them a dry paper towel and leave them at room temperature to finish carrying.
- Step 2: Transfer the star fruits to a bag or container.
The bag does not have to be airtight, but you must tie it well, and the container must have a good lid.
- Step 3: Enter the storage date.
Write down the storage date on the container.
- Step 4: Store the star fruits in the fridge.
You can put the star fruits in the vegetable drawer or a cool refrigerator area. Thus, the star fruits that are not fully ripe can last two weeks in the fridge, while ripe star fruits will only last 5 to 7 days refrigerated.
By the way, you should store the star fruits you chopped in airtight containers.
How to freeze star fruits
Can you freeze star fruits? You can definitely do it, and there are two ways to do it: chopping the star fruit or liquefying it.
- Step 1: Wash the star fruits.
Before you chop the star fruit, you should always wash them to remove all the dirt. You can rinse it under a stream of tap water or in a bowl with water and a splash of vinegar. You should always rub the star fruit well.
- Step 2: Chop the star fruit.
First, cut the edge of the ridges and then chop the fruit transversely so that they will be in the shape of a star in pieces with a thickness of one finger. Next, stir the seeds with the tip of a knife.
If you want to keep it in the form of puree, at this time, you can proceed to liquefy the star fruit.
- Step 3: Freeze the star fruit for two to four hours.
On a tray with wax paper, place the pieces of chopped star fruit one next to the other, leaving a little space between them.
For the puree, you have to pour it into molds to make ice cubes. Then, wait two or three hours for them to freeze completely.
- Step 4: Bag the star fruit.
When the fruit is frozen, transfer them to an airtight bag suitable for freezing.
- Step 5: Write down the storage date.
Write the date directly on the bag, or stick a date label on the container. You can also write the date on a tape attached to the container.
- Step 6: Store the star fruit in the freezer.
This way, you can freeze the star fruit for an estimated 10 to 12 months. This fruit can’t be re-frozen, so keep that in mind.
How to preserve star fruit juice
There are two ways to preserve star fruit juice. The first would be to store it in a container with a lid, in the coldest part of the fridge, and preferably, that it does not have ice because it can melt and the added water dilutes the flavor of the juice.
This way, you can refrigerate the juice for 3 to 5 days. Now, to extend the life span of the juice, you have to freeze it as follows.
- Step 1: Pour the juice into molds or bags.
You can use the molds to make ice cubes and pour the juice there or put it in small sealable bags. You could also place the juice in a freezer-resistant container without filling it completely since the liquid expands when frozen.
- Step 2: Perform the first freezing.
If you pour the juice into an ice cube pan or several sealable bags, you should freeze it for two to four hours. I recommend using a tray to place the bags. But if you put the juice in a container, skip this step.
When the juice is entirely frozen, unmold it and transfer it to a freezer bag that can be tightly closed.
- Step 3: Set the storage date.
Using a label or sticker or whatever you want.
- Step 4: Store the star fruit juice in the freezer.
This way, you can freeze the star fruit juice for a year. Then, when you want to defrost it, pass it to the fridge a day before; there, it can be for 2 or 3 more days, but if you thaw it at room temperature, you should drink it all the same day.
How to dehydrate star fruits
An alternative designed for long-term storage would be to dehydrate the star fruits as follows:
- Step 1: Clean the star fruits.
Wash them with plenty of water, rubbing them well to remove dirt. Now remove the edges of the ridges.
- Step 2: Cut the star fruits.
Cut the star fruits transversely one finger thick. And stir the seeds with the tip of the knife.
- Step 3: Dehydrate the star fruits.
If you use an oven, preheat it to the lowest temperature it allows (approximately 90°C-200°F). Then, put the pieces of star fruit on a tray with parchment paper or a nonstick sheet, side by side, leaving space between them. Dehydrate for about six or eight hours.
But if you have a food dehydrator, place the pieces one next to another, leaving a little space between them so that the air circulates better. Adjusts the temperature to 50°C and dehydrates from 10 to 12 hours.
You will know they are dehydrated when they have a somewhat malleable consistency, but they break when folded; they should not be sticky to the touch.
- Step 4: Transfer the dried star fruits to an airtight container.
When the star fruits cool, transfer them to an airtight container, preferably glass, since this material preserves food better. However, you can still use a plastic container or airtight bag.
A tip that I can give is that you do not fill the container, fill it a little above half so that during the first week, you can check if moisture appears. If that is the case, you should dehydrate them again for a couple more hours.
- Step 5: Write the storage date of the star fruits.
Attach a dated label, or tape a dated paper to the container using tape.
- Step 6: Store the carambola dehydrated.
Place the dried star fruits in a dark, cool, dry place. In this way, the dehydrated carambola can be at room temperature for a year.
And if you want to store them longer, keep the dehydrated star fruits in the freezer so that the dehydrated carambola can be between 2 and 5 years frozen.
How do you know if the star fruits spoiled?
One of the signs that tend to indicate at first glance that the star fruits got bad is their condition. If it has black or white spots, that is mold and unsafe to eat.
It is also unsafe to eat star fruit when it has rotted, so if it is entirely soft and with slight pressure, it falls apart.
If the star fruit tastes terrible and/or smells bad, it’s time to get rid of it.
How long do star-fruits last?
| Product | Duration |
| Green star fruit at room temperature | 1 week |
| Ripe star fruit at room temperature | 2 – 3 days |
| Refrigerated green star fruit | 2 weeks |
| Refrigerated ripe star fruit | 5 – 7 days |
| Frozen star fruit | 10 – 12 months |
| Star fruit juice in the fridge | 3 – 5 days |
| Star fruit juice in the freezer | 1 year |
| Dehydrated star fruit at room temperature | 1 year |
| Frozen dehydrated star fruit | 2 – 5 years |
What is the best way to preserve star fruits?
If the star fruits need to mature, then I think the best way to preserve them would be at room temperature to reach their desired point.
However, if they are close to being fully ripe, the best way to preserve the star fruit would be to refrigerate it.
Now, if you bought too many and they are already in full maturity, the best option is to store the star fruit in the freezer.
With star fruit, you can also prepare jam, and it is a great way to preserve them for a long time, as it would be to dehydrate star fruit.
If you want to know how to preserve another fruit, you can search this website since we have the widest variety of topics that deal with this precise point.
