How to Tell if a Guava Is Bad?

Guava is a tropical fruit that originated in South America and is now grown and enjoyed worldwide. Guava’s flavor and color are determined by its maturity. The flavor of the fruit varies from sour to sweet as it ripens, and the color changes from white to light crimson. To know how to tell if a guava is bad, read further.

Look for any evidence of ulceration; when it’s new, it’s smooth. Squeezing guava in your hand will reveal if it is rotting or not; rotten guava will open up rapidly, but fresh guava would be unyielding. Cutting the fruit in half and looking for any discoloration is another way to see if it’s terrible and should be destroyed.

Guava is bad

Simply grabbing and squeezing a guava fruit with your hand will cause the skin to easily tear up, indicating that the guava fruit is poor. Please continue reading for a step-by-step tutorial on distinguishing rotten guava fruits from those that have yet to spoil them. Guavas can also make pies, cakes, puddings, sauces, ice cream, tapioca, juices, syrup, butter, marmalade, chutney, relish, tomato sauce, morning cereal, baby food, and a variety of other items.

What Is Guava?

A tropical fruit native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, guava is a tropical fruit. Its meat usually is rich red or a vibrant shade of pink, and its skin is usually yellow or light green. The Psidium guajava tree, a member of the myrtle family, produces the fruit, including edible seeds and spherical. Guavas have a rich, sweet, and musky aroma when fully mature.

Guava, which is said to have originated in southern Mexico, has been widely dispersed across continents for so long that no one knows when the first guava trees were planted. It’s found all across the world in tropical areas. It first arrived on American land in the 1800s, when people in Florida and Hawaii began commercially producing it (which was not yet a U.S. state).

How to Tell if a Guava Is Bad?

When guavas are rotten, they exhibit several symptoms. Guava quickly becomes a vibrant yellow when it rots or becomes afflicted with parasites after it ripens. When guava begins to rot, it emits a tangy odor, while when completely fresh, it emits a sugary lemon-like odor. If your guava smells vinegary, now is the time to get rid of it.

When you notice the following, you know your guava is terrible:

  • Guava Fruit Collapses When Pressed

When you push the guava fruit with your fingers and then gently squeeze it, you can see that the guava fruit is damaged. If the skin of your guava peels away or collapses easily, it’s a clue that it’s in bad shape.

  • Unpleasant Smell

You may also determine if your guava fruit is spoilt if it has an unpleasant odor or rotting stench when you smell it. Good guava fruit has a pleasant aroma similar to a cross between pear and strawberry.

  • Moldy Spots

If your guava is terrible, you can see rotten parts and moldy places just by looking at it closely. This indicates that the guava fruit has gotten rotten and has begun to sprout fungal.

  • Worms Are Present

If you see worms in your guava fruit, you know it’s terrible, and it’s a sign that the area is infested with bugs. Although some individuals encourage eating this type of fruit, you do not recommend it. Eating such guava fruit can induce allergies and other health problems.

  • Flesh Colors: Black and Brown

Additionally, if you slice the guava fruit and find a clear brown or black pulp, it is also prominent symptoms that tell your guava fruit is ruined.

How Long Does Guava last?

Guava has a short shelf life after harvesting and must be stored correctly. Unripped guava lasts a week, while ripped guava lasts 4 to 5 days. Guava’s life can be extended by keeping them out of direct sunlight. If possible, it’s best to store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

This tropical fruit originated in a South American tropical forest and is collected and enjoyed worldwide. It’s high in vitamins and antioxidants, but it spoils quickly if not stored properly.

How to Store Guava?

Fruits do not survive long due to their high sugar content; nevertheless, several measures can be taken to preserve them for an extended period. The shredded guava only lasts 2 to 3 days before its quality deteriorates at room temperature. At room temperature, unripe apples last for a week. Once the guava begins to ripen, it must be stored in the refrigerator as soon as possible. Guava may be frozen for roughly seven to eight months. Therefore guava can last for months provided suitable precautions are used.

If you bought firm guava, keep it on the counter (out of direct sunshine) for a few days while it ripens. Enjoy the guava or store it in the crisper drawer after it gives slightly to pressure and smells robust and fruity. Put your guava in a firmly sealed plastic or paper bag before storing it in the fridge. This will keep it safe from other fruits, which will speed up the ripening process. Even if you store the fruit safely, you should consume it within a few days of it reaching full ripeness. Guava, like many tropical fruits, has a short shelf life. It is possible to freeze guava. However, it isn’t easy. Peel the fruit first, then totally immerse it in a solution of plain water and simple syrup. Freeze the guava (still submerged) in an airtight jar for a year.

Store It in the Fridge

Put your ripe guava in a clean plastic or paper bag, label it with the date, and store it in the refrigerator. To keep your guava from becoming too moist or too dry, place it in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator and set the drawer to a medium humidity level. Make sure the bag is slightly open at the top to allow air to circulate through the drawer. If possible, keep the guava in a separate refrigerator drawer from the other fruits, which can cause the guava to spoil faster.

Refrigerating this variety of fruit will only extend its shelf life by three to four days, so utilize it as soon as possible. The guava will get overripe after four days in the fridge and will have to be discarded. If you want to know if your fruit is overripe, push on the peel to see if it is exceptionally soft and dents when you press on it. If this happens, it’s time to get rid of it.

What Does Guava Taste Like?

Guava has a distinct, sweet flavor that is virtually universally enjoyed. Many people describe the flavor as a cross between a strawberry and a pear. The sweetness of the fruit varies depending on the type. Here are a few of the most popular types:

Lemon Guava: has a lemony flavor (surprise, surprise). This guava is tiny and sweet, with a strong aroma and flavor. This is the most common kind, often known as Apple Guava.

Tropical Pink: has bright yellow skin and pink flesh. It’s mildly sweet with a strong scent.

Tropical White: has whitish skin and is yellow on the inside. Because it’s delightful, it’s great for desserts.

Tropical Yellow: (or Mexican Cream) has a slice of orange meat and creamy white skin. This guava is somewhat sweet and has more liquid than other guava kinds.

Red Malaysian: is sweet with red skin and pink flesh. This type is sometimes used as a decoration.

How to Eat Guava?

Because the entire guava is edible, properly wash it before using it. Cut the fruit in the same way you would a cantaloupe: Cut into slices down the center.

Guava can be used in various ways in the kitchen, but it’s most typically eaten independently. In Latin America, agua fresca, a fruit-based beverage that frequently includes guava, is immensely popular. It’s commonly used in candies, dry snacks, desserts, and meat glazes. Guava is particularly well-suited to manufacturing jellies, jams, and marmalades due to its high pectin concentration.

Conclusion

Guava trees are tropical trees native to Central America, and the fruits they bear are round and light green or yellow. The delectable fruit is rich in health benefits and contains edible seeds. Guava leaves are also healthful because they are utilized in herbal teas and supplements. Antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium are abundant in fruits. Simple sugar can be made by heating equal parts of water and sugar on the stove until the mixture boils and forms a sweet syrup. Make sure all of the fruit pieces are soaked in the simple syrup. Ensure the simple syrup has cooled before pouring it over the guava and that the container or bag is properly shut before freezing it.

You can put the guava halves or chunks into an airtight container or bag and make sure there is about an inch of space at the top of the bag or container, referred to as headspace, because this will allow for a faster freezing time, allowing the fruit to stay fresh for longer once it’s in the freezer. To maintain the guava’s excellent flavor, pour simple syrup over it after placing it in the larger container.