One thing I didn’t know when we first started growing jujubes was just how well they keep after harvest.
Most fruits from our farm seem like they’re in a race against time. Peaches need to be eaten quickly. Berries don’t last very long. Even apples eventually begin losing their crispness.
Jujubes surprised me.
After picking our first ripe jujubes each season, I’ve found they stay fresh much longer than many of the fruits growing around them.
That doesn’t mean they’ll last forever, but with a little care you can enjoy them well beyond the day you picked them.
If you’re completely new to this unique fruit, I’d recommend starting with What Is a Jujube Fruit and What Does It Taste Like?. It covers what makes jujubes so different from other fruits and why they’ve become one of my favorites to grow.
It Depends on When You Pick Them
One thing I’ve noticed is that storage life starts with the harvest.
If you pick jujubes while they’re still green and firm, they’ll usually stay crisp longer than fruit that’s already fully ripe.
Personally, though, I don’t pick ours that early very often.
I enjoy the richer flavor that develops after they’ve turned mostly brown and started softening just a little.
If you’re wondering exactly when I harvest ours, take a look at How Do You Know When a Jujube Is Ripe? Signs It’s Ready where I share what I’ve learned from watching our trees every season.
How Long They Last on the Counter
If I’m planning to eat them over the next few days, I usually leave freshly picked jujubes on the kitchen counter.
When they’re mostly brown but still fairly firm, they generally stay in good condition for several days.
During that time they’ll often continue losing a little moisture.
Instead of becoming mushy, many begin developing slightly wrinkled skin.
That’s perfectly normal.
In fact, I actually enjoy them that way.
How Long They Last in the Refrigerator
If I know we won’t finish them quickly, I’ll move them into the refrigerator. For a comparable example of preserving another freshly harvested fruit, see this fresh elderberry storage guide.
Keeping them cool helps slow moisture loss and preserves their texture longer.
I’ve found this works especially well if I pick several handfuls during harvest season.
Instead of feeling rushed to eat everything immediately, we can enjoy fresh jujubes over a much longer period.
One thing I avoid is sealing them inside an airtight container if there’s moisture trapped inside.
Excess moisture is rarely your friend when storing fresh fruit.
Don’t Panic if They Start Wrinkling
This is probably the question I see most often.
People notice wrinkles and assume the fruit has gone bad.
Most of the time, that’s not what’s happening at all.
Jujubes naturally wrinkle as they lose moisture.
As they do, the sugars become even more concentrated.
I’ve actually found myself reaching for the wrinkled ones first because I enjoy their richer flavor.
If you’ve noticed your fruit changing like this, don’t miss Why Are My Jujubes Wrinkled? Are They Still Good to Eat? where I explain why wrinkled fruit often ends up being my favorite.
Can You Leave Jujubes on the Tree Longer?
Absolutely.
One thing I appreciate about jujubes is that the harvest isn’t usually all at once.
I’ll often leave plenty of fruit hanging while picking only the ripest ones.
A few days later I’ll go back for another handful.
This spreads our harvest across several weeks instead of one busy afternoon.
It’s one of the reasons growing jujubes has become so enjoyable.
Signs Your Jujubes Are Still Good
Healthy fresh jujubes usually have several things in common.
They should feel firm or only slightly soft depending on ripeness.
The skin may be green, partially brown, fully brown, or naturally wrinkled.
They should smell fresh.
When cut open, the flesh should still look clean around the pit.
Wrinkles alone don’t concern me.
Signs It’s Time to Throw Them Away
Even though jujubes store well, they won’t last forever.
I’ll throw one away if I notice:
- Mold growing on the fruit.
- A sour or fermented smell.
- Slimy flesh.
- Leakage.
- Obvious signs of decay.
Those are very different from normal ripening or harmless wrinkling.
Should You Wash Jujubes Before Storing Them?
I usually don’t.
Instead, I leave them dry until we’re ready to eat them.
Washing fruit before storage often leaves extra moisture on the skin, and that can shorten how long it stays fresh.
Instead, I’ll rinse them right before serving.
It’s a simple habit that’s worked well for us.
Can You Freeze Fresh Jujubes?
Yes.
If you end up with more fruit than you can eat, freezing is a great option.
The texture changes a little after thawing, but frozen jujubes still work well for many recipes.
I’ll be sharing a complete guide on freezing jujubes soon, and once it’s published I’ll link it here.
What About Drying Jujubes?
Another thing I enjoy about jujubes is how naturally they lend themselves to drying.
Unlike many fruits that simply rot if left too long, jujubes gradually become sweeter as they lose moisture.
That’s one reason they’re often compared to dates.
I’ll also be putting together a detailed guide on drying fresh jujubes because it’s another excellent way to enjoy the harvest long after the season ends.
We Rarely Have Leftovers
I’ll be honest.
We usually don’t have to worry much about long-term storage.
Once the fruit starts ripening, everyone in the family seems to grab a handful whenever they walk past the tree.
It’s one of those fruits that’s easy to snack on without even thinking about it.
The biggest challenge isn’t figuring out how to store them.
It’s picking enough before we eat them all.
My Best Advice
If you’ve never grown jujubes before, don’t stress too much about getting storage exactly right.
Focus first on harvesting them at the stage you enjoy most.
Some people love them while they’re still crisp.
Others prefer them darker and sweeter.
I’m definitely in the second group.
Once you’ve figured out your favorite stage, storing them becomes much easier because you’ll know exactly when to harvest each batch.
If you’re still experimenting with different ripeness stages, you may also enjoy reading Can You Eat Jujubes Green? Here’s What I Learned. It explains how the flavor changes from bright green fruit all the way to the darker, sweeter jujubes that I personally enjoy most.
As we continue growing more unusual fruit here on our family farm, I’ll keep sharing the little things we’ve learned along the way. Sometimes those lessons come from years of trial and error, and sometimes they come from simply walking outside, picking fresh fruit, and paying attention to what works.
About the Author
Daxon Weaver is the owner of Weaver Family Farms Produce, where he shares firsthand experiences growing fruit, harvesting unique crops, preserving homegrown food, and helping others enjoy the rewards of a family farm.
