Fridge storage
How long do limes last in the fridge?
About 10 days for limes. That’s what Well Stockd plans on; the table below has the sources’ own times.
Times are for a fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below. They’re a guide, not a safety guarantee.
How we checked this: each storage time here is checked against the source named beside it, USDA FoodKeeper, USDA FSIS or another, before the page goes live. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, since FoodKeeper and FSIS give none. Editorial policy
Whole limes can stay at room temperature, but FoodKeeper gives citrus longer in the refrigerator, so a sealed bag in the crisper is the better place for them. Source: FoodKeeper App, FoodSafety.gov (opens in a new tab)
How long they keep
- Unopened
- 10 to 21 days in a sealed bag in the crisper; about 10 days at room temperature Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Citrus fruit (opens in a new tab)
- Opened or cut
- Cut limes hold 3 to 4 days wrapped tightly; squeezed juice 2 to 3 days Our estimate: FoodKeeper and FSIS give no time for this.
- Freezer
- Not recommended: USDA FoodKeeper does not recommend freezing citrus fruit. If you freeze them anyway, see the storage notes on this page.
- How to store them
- In a zip bag in the crisper: the bag matters, since dry fridge air shrivels citrus fast. Freeze the juice in ice-cube trays and the zest in a small bag; whole frozen limes turn soft.
How to tell if limes have gone bad
Dates are estimates; these are the checks that actually decide it. Don’t taste food to check whether it has gone bad.
Throw them out at once if you see:
- White or green mold
Warning signs (throw them out if you notice more than one):
- Soft, spongy spots
- Wrinkled, drying skin
- Brown patches in the flesh
Sources and limits
Write the date it went in on the container, and check it before day 10.
Well Stockd doesn’t know when this food was harvested, packed, bought, opened or cooked. Write down the date you opened, cooked or refrigerated it, follow the package directions, keep your fridge at 40°F or below, and check the official listing when food safety is in question.
Each time in the table names its source beside it. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, because FoodKeeper and FSIS give none for that food in that state, and where our time differs from FoodKeeper’s, the row shows FoodKeeper’s figure too. The number at the top is Well Stockd’s own estimate. It’s a guide, not a safety guarantee: FoodKeeper says storage times are guidelines, and quality varies with how food is grown, handled, shipped and stored. This page was last updated .
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