Fresh lychees are delicious. So that the exotic fruits do not spoil so quickly, it is important to store them correctly.
If you only know lychees from a can and have never tried fresh specimens, you've really missed something. The taste of fresh lychees differs significantly from that of canned fruit. They taste sweet and sour at the same time and, with their light note of nutmeg, go perfectly with exotic fruit salads. So the next time you go shopping, it's better to fall back on the fresh lychees. You don't even have to look far for the fruit. Fresh lychees are now available in many supermarkets and fruit shops all year round.
Do you have the exotic fruits at home, but not really hungry for them yet? Then be sure to observe the following points when storing, so that the taste and quality of the lychees do not suffer. After all, the fruits are relatively sensitive and suffer accordingly from incorrect storage.
How to store lychees correctly
As with many types of fruit, lychees should be processed or eaten as soon as possible after purchase. If that is not possible, consider these points:
» only buy ripe lychees:
Lychees do not ripen. When shopping, always make sure that you only buy ripe fruit. You can recognize them by their firm, pink-reddish skin. Immature lychees are greenish, overripe ones are brownish. So it's best to keep your hands off these. Just remember: the lighter the skin, the fresher the lychee.
» Storage at room temperature:
Because lychees only have a thin skin, they tend to dry out. Therefore, only store them for a maximum of one week. However, the temperature is very important. For example, the taste lasts best at room temperature.
» Fridge storage:
You can even store lychees in the fridge for a little longer than a week, but then you have to accept a significant reduction in taste. Place the fruit in a plastic jar or bag, then place in the refrigerator. At least that's how they hold upfresh for about two weeks.
By the way:
If you have a lot of patience, you can also grow lychees yourself from the seeds of the fruit. That in itself is actually not that difficult. You just need a lot of patience.
» Reading tip: Breeding lychees - this is how it works.