Blackberries are black rubus berries that resemble darker raspberries that come in three different types with a sweet and tarty taste. If you have blackberries in your fridge, you may be wondering how long do they last?

Quick Answer

Blackberries like all berries have a limit on their shelf-life. Blackberries stay fresh for 2 days or less if they’re left outside. You can extend their shelf life by putting them in the refrigerator for 2 to 5 days if you hold them in a proper container. Freezing blackberries is the best way to save them, allowing them to last up to a year if you either dry freeze them or flash freezing them.

If you don’t take care of the blackberries properly, they will go bad very quickly. In this article, you will be told how long blackberries last in different environments, how to tell bad blackberries from good ones, how to make them last longer, and more below.

Do Blackberries Go Bad? How Long Do Blackberries Last?

As you probably guessed, blackberries do go bad as all foods and fruits will. How long they last depend on how you take care of them and where you put them too.

How Long Do Blackberries Last Outside?

Outside of the refrigerator, blackberries won’t last very long as they need to be in a cool and cold environment. If you do leave it out then it will spoil much faster than it would in the refrigerator.

If the room temperature is especially hot, then they will probably only last a day, if not, a few hours before going bad.

How Long Do Blackberries Last in the Fridge?

In a refrigerator, blackberries have a typical shelf life of two to three days or five depending on the container.

If you do find a bad berry in the bunch, however, it is ideal to take the bad ones out of the bunch. This is because the fresh ones could go bad quickly when they are in contact with a spoiled one.

Putting a paper towel under the berries can prevent them from getting wetter than they need to be and so water doesn’t get everywhere.

How Long Do Blackberries Last in the Freezer?

An overlooked method for preserving fruits is putting them in the freezer.

Blackberries last longer when put in a freezer since mold won’t survive in an extremely cold environment.

When they are stored in the freezer, they can last approximately 12 months, making it a more ideal place. The stems and leaves should be taken off before freezing.

If you have space, putting blackberries in the freezer will save them for a longer time giving them plenty of time before they go bad.

How To Tell If Blackberries Have Gone Bad?

When blackberries go bad, everything about them changes for the worse and there are multiple signs of spoilage that you should know.

Mold: White or green mold on the skin is one sign of rotten blackberries. Blackberries aren’t like firmer fruits such as apples or pears that you can eat around the mold. Since mold is a type of fungus, it can have consequences if you eat it.

Smell: Blackberries that go bad will have a scent that is either sour or just plain off. This is distinguishable since blackberries are usually sweet-smelling if they give off a scent at all.

It’s best if you don’t smell them directly into your nostril. Doing this with moldy blackberries often can lead to respiratory issues.

Soft: If they are in their early stages of spoilage, they tend to feel slimmer than usual when you touch them. The juices from the blackberries tend to leak out more.

How to Store Blackberries?

Berries need a place to be put in when they go to the refrigerator or freezer. All of these options will assure that they are safe from damage and decay.

In a bag: A plastic baggie is a convenient and somewhat safe place to put them in. If you put them in the refrigerator, they can easily be crushed by other foods or objects.

In a container: If you buy blackberries from a store, then they should already come in a sealed container. The container top should also have holes for the berries to let air in and out of the container.

It should also be big enough for the number of berries being held inside or else they’ll crush the bottom berries.

In a can: Canned fruits last the very longest out of all since they can last up to two years. The use-by date is also on the top of the lid so you know when it’s expired.

Putting blackberries in a jar can save them for annual use, keeping them firm, fresh, and flavorful.

Can You Freeze Blackberries? How?

If you don’t have room in the refrigerator you might ask yourself can I freeze these blackberries? It’s possible and there are different methods.

Flash Freezing: Flash freezing is the method of freezing foods quickly so they don’t make crystallized ice. Flash freezing blackberries are the best way to allow them to be frozen individually.

Spread the blackberries on parchment paper on the baking pan and put plastic wrap over them.

Dry Freezing: First, you’ll need to give the berries a good cleaning to rinse off any dirt or germs on them. You will then dry them off on paper towels for about 15 or so minutes before pat drying them off.

How to Thaw Blackberries?

When you take the berries out of the freezer, they will need to be thawed to be consumed. Here are a few ways to thaw out the berries.

Coldwater: A trick to speed up the process is to put them in a bowl and to pour cold water over it. After they defrost, slowly drain the cold water out of the bowl to use them.

Refrigerator: If you have the time and space in your refrigerator, then you can put the blackberries in a container and let them thaw in the refrigerator for five hours.

You can however let it thaw overnight if you prefer soft blackberries over firm blackberries.

Microwave: The best way to microwave the blackberries is to lay them out on a paper towel. You will then want to put the microwave on the defrost setting for about 30 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blackberries

Now that you know more about the shelf life and how to preserve blackberries more, you might have questions about the berries themselves. Here are some questions and answers about blackberries.

What Happens if You Eat Bad Blackberries?

For starters, you won’t die if you accidentally eat a little mold here and there. If your immune system is decent then you might get a little sick due to the bad taste rather than the mold itself.

This is also in part because mold sometimes produces a toxic chemical that can cause illnesses. If you feel severely sick, seek treatment immediately.

How Can I Extend the Shelf Life of Blackberries?

For the sake of preserving your blackberries longer, you should only rinse your blackberries before you are ready to eat them.

They can also last up to 8 days longer than usual if you wash them with a mix of 3 cups of water and 1 cup of white vinegar. It is ideal to do this method in a bowl then dry them off with a towel.

Wrap Up

Blackberries are more than capable of going bad within either days or months depending on how you store them. It’s best not to eat the mold since you can get sick and you can just eat better and not rotten fruits.