Can Goji Berries Go Bad?

Goji berries are a superfood that originate from China. They are powerhouses of antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients.

If you have a bag of goji berries lying in your pantry for quite sometime now, then you might be wondering how to tell if they’ve gone bad! Not to worry – in this article, we shall answer the question, ‘Can goji berries go bad?’

Ripe goji berries go bad fast but the dried version has a longer expiration date. They are sold in dried form internationally and online. But the dried version can also go bad! Here are signs your goji berries have gone bad:

4 Signs Goji Berries Have Gone Bad

1. Appearance

Dried goji berries should have the appearance of bright orange-red raisins. They are more or less the same size of raisins. If your goji berries have turned a dark unhealthy colour and have shrivelled up considerably, they have probably gone bad.

2. Texture

The texture of goji berries is firm, just like raisins. If your goji berries have turned mushy much like children’s play putty, they have gone bad!

3. Taste

Goji berries have a tangy, slightly sweet & a bit of an earthy flavour. When you eat goji berries, you’ll find that they are chewy and stick to your teeth. They have an acquired taste. However, unlike fresh goji berries, dried goji berries do not have a bitter taste. Do your goji berries taste off with bitter undertones? They’ve probably gone bad.

4. Time

Dried goji berries have an average expiration time of 1 year if stored in a cool dry place. If your goji berries are past the expiry date, then chances are that they have gone bad.

How to Store Goji Berries

• To ensure goji berries last longer without going bad, make sure to store them in an airtight jar.
• Avoid keeping them out in the open, for example in a bowl for long periods of time, otherwise they may become mushy and go bad.
• If you buy goji berries in a bag, you can transfer them into an air tight jar for longer preservation.
• Do not store them in humid places. They are best stored on the kitchen shelf or cupboard if you live in a low humid area. If you live in a place with high humidity, then you may store the goji berries in the refrigerator.

How to Eat Goji Berries

There are so many wonderful ways of consuming goji berries. You can eat them straight from the bag or add them to your food. Here are some exciting ideas:

• Add goji berries to your trail mixes! Their chewy bite adds more texture to your trail mix. And the bright red colour makes your trail mix visually appealing!
• Toss a few into your blender when making a smoothie.
• Sprinkle them onto your smoothie bowls.
• Use them as toppings on yogurt or cereal.
• Put them in baked goodies like cookies, cake and scones.
• Make a goji berry tea by steeping 1-2 tsp of goji berries in a cup of boiling water. Sweeten with honey and sip up!

Where to Buy Goji Berries

Ensure you get high quality organic non-GMO goji berries. I recommend Navitas Organics Organic, Non-GMO, Sun Dried, Sulfite-Free Goji Berries. It comes in a 16 oz resealable bag.

So can goji berries go bad? Yes, they can! Ensure to store them properly and eat them up before they get expired.