If you cut fruits and put them in the refrigerator, will half of the nutrients be lost? Can fruits be put in the refrigerator? Nutritionist to answer

Office workers like to eat fruits, but they are very busy, so they have to cut the fruits in the evening, put them in a fresh-keeping box, put them in the refrigerator, and then take them to the company to eat the next day. However, there is a rumor circulating on the Internet: "If you put cut fruits in the refrigerator, half of the nutrients will be lost, and unripe fruits should not be put in the refrigerator." Are these rumors circulating on the Internet true? Is it fake? Let’s hear what nutritionist Chen Yichun has to say.

Will half of the nutrients in cut fruits be lost when refrigerated? Let the experiment tell you

Nutritionist Chen Yichun said that in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a research report titled "Quality Changes and Nutrient Retention of Fresh Cut Fruits and Whole Fruits during Storage" found that when cut fruits are refrigerated at 5 degrees Celsius, the nutrient loss is not as low as half as rumored on the Internet.

In this experiment, researchers collected six kinds of fresh fruits, including pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberry and kiwi. Half of them were cut and packed in boxes according to hygiene standards, and stored in a refrigerator at 5 degrees Celsius together with the whole uncut fruits.

During the 9-day storage period, the fruits were exposed to fluorescent lights three times, and the loss of nutrients such as vitamin C, α-carotene, β-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and polyphenols in the cut fruits was observed on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th days of storage.

When cut fruits are refrigerated at 5 degrees Celsius, the nutrients are not lost by half as rumored on the Internet.

Research results: Vitamin C, carotene, and polyphenols are lost by less than half

The research results found that when the cut fruits were stored at 5 degrees Celsius for 6 days, the loss of vitamin C was less than or equal to 5% for mango, strawberry and watermelon slices, 10% for pineapple slices, 12% for kiwi slices, and 25% for cantaloupe chunks.

As for carotenoids, kiwi slices and watermelon cubes had no loss, pineapple lost 25%, and cantaloupe, mango, and strawberry slices lost 10-15%; there was no obvious loss of phenolics.

Cut fruits and leave them at room temperature, bacteria will breed and vitamins will be lost

From the above experiment, we can see that when cut fruits are refrigerated in a refrigerator at 5 degrees C, although the fruit's appearance will be drier and the color will become darker, the loss of nutrients is not as much as imagined. However, if the cut fruit is left at room temperature, will the nutrients be lost quickly?

Nutritionist Chen Yichun said that the temperature is high in summer and bacteria multiply quickly at room temperature. In addition, vitamin C will be destroyed when exposed to oxygen, heat, light and alkali. If the cut fruit is exposed to the air for a long time, the vitamin C will easily be lost in large quantities and it will be easier to spoil. It is best to store it in the refrigerator.

Can’t tell the difference between menopausal and non-menopausal fruits? Nutritionists say it’s clear

It is particularly important to note that although a refrigerated low-temperature environment can extend the shelf life of fruits, it does not mean that all fruits can be placed in the refrigerator. Nutritionist Chen Yichun reminds us that fruits can be divided into two types: menopausal fruits and non-menopausal fruits. Climax fruits will release ethylene on their own, causing the fruits to gradually mature and become sweeter and more fragrant. They are usually harvested before they are fully ripe. However, non-climacteric fruits will not have the phenomenon of ripening and are mostly ripe when harvested.

Although a refrigerated low-temperature environment can extend the shelf life of fruits, it does not mean that all fruits can be placed in the refrigerator.

Can all fruits be put in the refrigerator? Unripe fruits have reduced nutritional value

If menopausal fruits are placed in the refrigerator before they are ripe, the ripening speed will become slower. Moreover, if the fruits are eaten before they are ripe, their nutritional value will be greatly reduced. In addition, tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes, and papayas are prone to black spots and frostbite if refrigerated. It is recommended that these fruits be stored at room temperature and eaten as soon as possible before they become overripe.

As for non-climacteric fruits, they are already ripe when harvested. They should be refrigerated as soon as possible after purchase, otherwise they will quickly overripe and rot. It is special to note that climacteric fruits should not be placed together with non-climacteric fruits, otherwise the ripe non-climacteric fruits may spoil faster.