Q&A for How to Select and Store Custard Apples

You can leave the unripe custard apple in a fruit bowl on the kitchen countertop to ripen over a few days at room temperature. This time can be sped up by placing the custard apple into a paper bag with a banana; with this method, usually it'll be ripe enough to eat within 24 hours or even earlier.

A ripe custard apples will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can keep it for longer by pureeing and freezing the puree.

A custard apple can be frozen but it is best done so as a puree, as it tends to turn to mush if frozen whole. To freeze as a puree, add some lemon or lime juice to the puree mixture, then transfer to an airtight freezer container or bag. Label and date, it'll stay good for up to 12 months.

You can store it in an air tight container for 3 to 6 days.