Wolfberry, sometimes referred to as goji berry, is a unique red fruit that can be found practically anywhere in the world. However, if you want to know where do goji berries come from, the goji berry origin is China and is used in traditional Chinese medicine, such as goji berry tea.
You can use them in various cuisines and add goji berries to salads and smoothie bowls, which are the most frequent methods used for berries in the dried form. You can eat them raw, although rehydrating goji berries are also possible. When you buy them, you may find you have more than you can use at once. Despite having a long shelf life, goji berries can spoil quickly if not stored properly.
In our guide, you can learn if your goji berries go bad quickly or have a long shelf life. By the end, you’ll know all you need, and if you have fresh berries, you may learn how to dry goji berries to keep them longer. (Read Can You Make Hamburger Helper Without Milk)
Signs Your Fresh Goji Berries Are Bad
China’s Goji berries are superfoods. They’re antioxidant and nutritional powerhouses.
You may wonder whether a bag of goji berries has gone bad.
1. Goji Berry Appearance
When they are dried, goji berries should look like bright orange-red raisins.
The size is about the same as a raisin. If your goji berries have turned a dark, unhealthy color and shrunk a lot, they may have gone bad.
2. Berry Texture
Goji berries are like raisins in that they are firm. If your goji berries have become mushy like kids’ play putty, they are no longer bad.
3. Goji Berries Taste
Goji berries have an acquired taste: a little sour, sweet, and earthy. When you eat goji berries, they will stick to your teeth and feel chewy.
However, dried goji berries do not taste bitter, unlike fresh goji berries. Bitterness in the taste background of your goji berries means they may be bad.
4. Age
On average, you can keep dried goji berries for one year if stored in a cool, dry place. However, if the date on your time dried goji berries have passed, they will likely go bad.
How to Store Goji Berries
First, ensure goji berries are stored properly to keep them fresh because goji berry shelf life relies on storage. After buying goji berry, preserve it appropriately at home.
Despite having a long shelf life, the goji berry still needs a good spot to endure for a long time. If you keep it in poor conditions, it will go bad early.
If you don’t know how to keep goji berry, follow these tips:
Store In A Cool And Dark Place
Goji berries come in sealed packages with a “best by” date. They will stay in the sealed package for a long time, even after the “best by” date has passed. You can store the package anywhere at room temperature if it isn’t opened.
The best place to keep goji berries is in your kitchen’s pantry or cupboard. You can keep them on the counter or in the kitchen for a long time if they are in an airtight jar. (Learn How Long Does An Egg Sandwich Last In The Fridge)
Store Away From Heat
Goji berries have a lot of sugar, so that they can get soft in the summer or other hot places.
Because the temperature is high and there is a lot of sugar in the food, bacteria will have more chances to grow.
To keep Goji berries safe and stop bacteria from growing on them, store goji away from high-temperature areas such as in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
Keep Sealed
Once you open the package, the Goji berries’ shelf life will decrease owing to increased oxidation. To reduce oxidation, keep them locked in jars or airtight containers.
Store In Refrigerator
If the surrounding temperature is hot and you’re scared of bacterial growth in the Goji berries, store them in the refrigerator. They’ll survive much longer.
How Long Does Goji Berry Last?
Goji berries have a best-by date and are shelf-stable. Goji berries have an expiration date of over two years out. So, Goji berries are shelf-stable and can last a couple of years beyond expiration.
Once opened, Goji berries oxidize and open freshness. Store them properly. Properly stored, opened Goji berries last three months at room temperature. Freezing them increases their shelf life to six months.
How to Tell If Goji Berry Is Bad?
Goji berries display several indicators of deterioration after turning bad, so it’s easy to tell them apart. Fresh Goji berries taste, feel, and look different when spoiled.
- If Goji berries change color, don’t use them.
- If Goji berries become softer and mushier, replace them with fresh ones.
- Goji berries are sweet and sour, so bitter signifies they’ve gone bad.
Is it safe to eat fresh goji berries?
They get juicier. Tea and antioxidant-rich berries can be consumed, or soak goji berries for smoothies for 10 minutes. Then, when they’re ripe, blend them into a smoothie.
What do you do with fresh goji berries?
You can use Goji berries in various cooked, baked, or fresh
sweet and savory recipes and eat them raw with their chewy texture.
You can soak dried goji berries and then add the hydrated berries to smoothies, dried or used as a garnish on cereal. You can bake them in muffins like cranberries or more. You can even steep them in boiling water to produce immune system-boosting tea.
How to tell you have a bad goji berry?
If goji berries have gone bad, you can always tell. A fresh goji berry will taste sweet, tart, and earthy depending on when it was collected.
If the chewy berries have gone bad, they will taste bitter and leave a nasty aftertaste.
You may often see natural color variations that look like mold, and your goji berries have gone bad yet haven’t.
Should I wash goji berries?
Washing Fresh Goji Berries is recommended, as is all fresh produce you get from the exotic grocery store or any grocery before you eat it.
How many goji berries should I eat?
How many goji berries do I need to eat every day? Even though they are small, you shouldn’t eat too many goji every day just because they are small.
As a general rule, you shouldn’t eat more than a handful (20–30g) of dried goji berries daily, and don’t be tempted to eat a full bag of goji berries. (Learn How To Take Sharpie Off A Pumpkin)
Goji Berry Risks and Side Effects Goji Berries Have
Some drugs might not work well with goji berries. For example, if you take warfarin, which thins the blood, stay away from them.
Goji berries may also react with medications for diabetes and high blood pressure, so stop eating goji berries and talk to your doctor.
If not, goji berries are probably safe to eat in small amounts
to reap the health benefits of goji berries.
Goji root bark may affect blood pressure, so using it in moderation will help.
Is it safe to eat goji berries every day?
Moderate goji berry eating as part of a healthy diet is safe like other dried fruits. However, before taking goji berry supplements, see your doctor.
When consumed in moderation, Goji berries as they are or goji berry juice are highly nutritious.
Most side effects of eating too many goji berries are caused by over-consuming fiber, potassium, and selenium, which can cause stomach issues.
Are fresh goji berries better than dried ones?
Is there any nutritional difference between dried and fresh goji berries? No, Goji berries lose a lot of mass in the drying process yet retain all their goodness; hence the recommended serving size is 28g.
How do you keep dried goji berries fresh?
You should keep dried berries cool and dark. Goji berries last for at least a year; however, manufacturers that add preservatives to the store-dried goji berries may offer a longer shelf life.
How do you store fresh goji berries?
If you think you’ll be eating your goji berries within the week, you can store them in an uncovered bowl on your counter, out of direct sunlight for a day or two, or keep them in an airtight container in your fridge for up to a week. via
What goes well with goji berries?
A goji berry smoothie bowl is an energizing breakfast, dinner, snack, or dessert. Mix them with seasonal fruit of your choice, unsweetened soymilk, and chia seeds, then top with granola, nuts, coconut, and more fruit.
What does Goji Berry do for your skin?
Goji berry extract reduced skin-darkening tyrosinase and melanin. This reduces hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tones. via
Can you eat goji berries at night?
Whole foods like kiwis, goji berries, edamame, oats, plain yogurt, and eggs provide nutritious late-night munchies.
