Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that blueberries, like a lot of other fresh fruits, usually do not have a use by date or a best before date so you will have to use the date purchased. Sometimes when blueberries are purchased in a package it is labeled with the date they were packed and there will be a best buy date on blueberries purchased frozen - this date can be used to calculate the eat by date.

For more information on blueberries, see our post on why blueberries are good for you.

How to tell if Blueberries are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Some common traits of bad blueberries are a mushy, soft texture and some discoloration and bruising and then mold will start to appear beginning where the stem was attached. Remember, if they are moldy, throw them out!

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Blueberries to extend their shelf life?

Blueberries should be stored directly from the store into a sealed air-tight container to keep out moisture and other contaminants.

Do not rinse your blueberries until immediately before use - very important in extending the shelf life of blueberries.

For a long term option, blueberries can be frozen. Spread the berries on a baking sheet and place it in the freezer for about 2 hours then transfer them into a freezer safe bag or airtight container. To defrost, place them into a bowl for about an hour and then use them for baking since they will be soft. Although freezing is an indefinite form of storage, frozen fruit tends to form ice crystals rapidly due to the high water content of fruit. Fruit frozen too long will eventually have more ice crystals than fruit as the blueberries dry out and shrink.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How long are Blueberries good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do blueberries last? That depends. How long does cream last? In general, blueberries last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Blueberries lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Blueberries.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Blueberries shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!