By Matilda Rudd For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:47 EST, 17 November 2021 | Updated: 20:03 EST, 17 November 2021

A self-confessed 'fruit nerd' has revealed how to choose the ripest berries on the supermarket shelves - and why you've been storing your raspberries wrong in the fridge. 

Produce expert Thanh Truong, who lives in Melbourne, detailed why raspberries can last mere days if not taken out of their plastic packaging - but grapes are the opposite - and why Australians should understand their 'hot' and 'cold' fruits in order to remain 'in balance'.

Mr Truong commented that it's very hard to understand seasonality anymore when it comes to our fruits because farmers are finding ways to grow food year-round with new techniques.

'Raspberries have always been a summer fruit and they still taste the best between December and February,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Produce expert Thanh Truong (pictured), who lives in Melbourne, detailed why raspberries can last mere days if not taken out of their plastic packaging

'Protected cropping has meant we can grow them in winter by covering the berry vines with a white tarpaulin tent and keeping the heat in - mimicking the growing conditions in summer - but winter raspberries don't last as long at home.' 

Instead Mr Truong recommends sticking to the season they grow best in naturally and looking for tell-tale signs of over-ripening in the package.

The 'soaking pad' underneath the raspberries shouldn't be overflowing with juice, and if it is, 'don't buy it'. 

Raspberries are a summer fruit

Despite raspberries being available to purchase from the supermarket year-round they are a summer fruit and ultimate taste the best between December and February.

Choose a punnet that doesn't have 'juice' at the bottom of the soaking pad because this is a hint the fruit inside is old and won't last long in the fridge.

When storing your raspberries in the fridge take them out of the plastic punnet and place each of them on a plate, so as to separate them in case one becomes mouldy - it won't affect the entire bunch. 

'It means they're old. So unless you're going to eat them in the next hour, choose ones that are a deep red in colour without any visible juice,' he said. 

Once you purchase a punnet place each raspberry onto a plate, spread out from each other. This will prevent mould spreading in the event one of them is infected in the package.

The same can't be said for strawberries and grapes though, as these thrive best in the fridge when stacked together, still in their plastic wrappers.  

'Grapes retain a lot of energy from the vine if they're still attached to it. So keep them stored in the bag closed, in the crisper,' Mr Truong said.

'Strawberries are very permeable so they will dehydrate quickly if you don't keep them in the punnet. 

Fruit galore: While it's been long suspected fruit can cause breakouts, sadly Mr Truong confirmed the connection and offered an explanation as to why it happens

'Farmers pick their strawberries before they're fully ripened with the white part on top. Look for strawberries with as much red colour as possible as these are the ripest.' 

While it's been long suspected fruit can cause breakouts, sadly Mr Truong confirmed the connection and offered an explanation as to why it happens.

'Throughout time it has been well studied. During the time of Greek thought they pushed moderation for a good diet and a good person in society,' he said.

Each type of fruit has a tendency to be either 'hot' or 'cold' - something that is also well-known and studied in Chinese medicine - and the individual needs to eat a selection from both sides in order to say balanced.

'Mangoes are hot whereas blueberries have a cooling effect on the body,' he continued (stock image)

'Mangoes are hot whereas blueberries have a cooling effect on the body,' he continued.

Other hot fruits include lemon, pomegranate, oranges and dates, while the cooler options are blackberries, grapes, bananas, pineapple and nectarine.

Having an excessive amount of 'hot' fruit can wind up causing your skin to become inflamed so it's best to keep the balance in check at snack time.

You can find the 'fruit nerd' Thanh Truong on Instagram here  for more food tips .   

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Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

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