Citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines) keeps about 10–21 days in the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below, counting from the day you bought it.
That's the longest window published for Citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines) — sealed in the fridge is its best case.
| Situation | Keeps for |
|---|---|
| Unopened · pantry | 10 days |
| Unopened · fridge | 10–21 days |
| Freezer | Not recommended |
Air and warmth are what shorten an opened item's life — the right container buys back the days the packaging gives up once the seal's broken.
Keep Citrus fruit fresh longer ↗ Need a fresh one? ↗
Ad · Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. They appear after your answer and never change it.
About 10–21 days at 40°F (4°C) or below, according to USDA FoodKeeper v128. That window runs from the day you bought it — FoodKeeper publishes no separate after-opening figure for this one.
Citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines) is shelf-stable at room temperature: cool, dry pantry, or refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below to keep it longer. Refrigerating it mainly preserves quality rather than safety.
Look for: Mould or fuzzy spots; Mushy, collapsed, or leaking areas; A fermented or alcohol-like smell; Slimy skin. Those are the general signs for fruit — USDA FoodKeeper v128 publishes no spoilage note for Citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines) specifically. Never taste something to test it — when in doubt, throw it out.
USDA FoodKeeper v128 does not recommend freezing Citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines) — it survives but the texture or quality suffers badly.