If you buy lychees fresh, you should refrigerate them when you get them home. Unlike some tropical fruit such as avocados, mangos and bananas, lychees don't ripen after being picked. You can also freeze lychees – just seal them (in their skin) in a freezer bag.
How do you store lychees?
Handling and Storage
- Keep fruit refrigerated at 5°C. ...
- Keep lychees moist by spraying them with water regularly to maintain skin colour.
- Store lychees in plastic packaging, a plastic bag or plastic containers.
- Lychees are best sold fresh within 2 to 3 days of receipt.
How do you know if a lychee is bad?
It should give a little. If it's too soft, it may be overripe. Ripe lychee will have a lush, floral smell. Signs of spoiled lychee include a brown husk or fruit that's cracked, secreting liquid, or smells fermented or off.