5 ways to identify stale fruits in the market

Buying fruits when you’re unsure how to identify fresh ones and those in perfect condition can be quite a task.  

Imagine going to the market and getting back home only to discover that your judgement about some fruit was terrible, and now you must deal with the consequences of your decision.  

Well, there are ways to identify stale fruits in the market so that you can avoid them like the plague and settle for the good ones.  

Let’s look at them together.

1. Investigate the body  

To avoid buying stale fruits in the market, feel the body of the fruits gently to see if they are soft, bruised, or discoloured. If they are too soft, that may likely mean that they are spoilt or overripe.  

If it has bruises, it could mean those spots have decayed. If the colour is not as bright as it should be, it looks pale, or it has many dark spots, then it’s not suitable for consumption.  

2. Check the stem 

With fruits like mangoes, apples, or pears, you can also inspect the fruit’s stem to determine if it’s stale. How the stem looks can tell you a bit or more about your fruit’s condition – stale or fresh. If it looks withered and shrunk, then it might just be stale.  

3. Use your nose 

There’s nothing disrespectful about using your nose to inspect the fruit you want to buy, however, tread with caution. To avoid buying stale fruits in the market, you can inspect them with your nose. So, if you can perceive freshness, it could mean that it’s good for eating. It could be stale if it smells terrible, fermented, or spoilt.  

Read Also: When can I eat fruits?

4. Examine the weight 

You can avoid buying stale fruits in the market by checking the weight of the fruit. When it’s too light, it might not have enough water content in it which clearly could signify that it’s not fresh. Also, if it’s seemingly heavy, the water content is high, and the fruit is still fresh.  

5. Check the degree of firmness 

Another yardstick for determining the freshness or staleness of a fruit is through the skin. If the fruit’s skin is firm, for example- tomatoes, plums, grapes, etc., it could mean it’s fresh. However, if the fruit has wrinkles all over it or at all, it’s a sign that it’s stale. 

A side note: If you are examining the degree of firmness, exercise caution and avoid pressing on it too hard. 

Above all, paying attention to the condition of the fruits you want to buy from the market is vital to get value for your money.