It's good for you—what could go wrong?
Here’s Why You Should Skip Precut Fruit Trays at Costco
Published on May 10, 2025
Costco shoppers are well versed in the convenience of a significant number of the warehouse club’s food offerings. That $4.99 rotisserie chicken? Chef’s kiss. Kirkland Signature muffins? Breakfast is served. Precut fruit platter—wait just a second there.
There’s something about a precut fruit bowl or platter that looks so inviting. It’s fresh, it’s healthy, and the work of slicing and dicing has already been done for you. This is the gateway to the fit lifestyle you’ve always wanted. But is it?
Although it seems like a good idea in the moment when you’re adding other meal helpers to your cart, there are some pretty strong arguments to avoid Costco’s precut fruit—and we’re dissecting all of them. Read on to find out why you might want to skip this convenience item on your next Costco run.
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How much can you save on precut fruit trays at Costco?
Not as much as you’d think—and possibly nothing at all. If you’re comparing the cost of precut fruit trays or bowls at Costco to those at your standard grocery store, they ring up as nearly the same in price. For example, a 3-pound, fresh-cut fruit bowl at Costco costs $14.92. This breaks down to $4.97 per pound. However, at a nearby Kroger affiliate, a pound of precut fresh fruit costs $4.51. And, really, both options are expensive.
“While it may seem like a deal because you’re at a warehouse, you’re often paying double—or even triple—the cost compared to buying fruit whole,” says Laurie House, founder at the Passionate Penny Pincher. “That’s right: That neatly sliced pineapple or precut watermelon might save you a few minutes, but it’ll cost you versus doing it yourself. When you break it down by price per pound, whole fruit wins every single time.”
Why should you think twice about buying precut fruit at Costco?
Aside from the cost issue, the fruit might not be all that fresh, unfortunately. And while there’s a best-by date when, in theory, it should be removed from display, you really have no idea how long that precut fruit has been lying in wait in the refrigerated section.
And that’s not the only problem. “Once fruit is cut, it starts losing nutrients faster,” says Hise. “Not to mention there may be unnecessary preservatives. Plus, those plastic containers aren’t exactly the best for keeping it crisp and juicy, and the extra packaging certainly isn’t eco-friendly.”
There are entire Reddit threads dedicated to customer disappointment with Costco’s precut fruit. “Is the precut fruit at Costco always so terrible?” one Redditor asks. “I’ve bought it twice now and it just doesn’t seem great. I just bought a package yesterday and today it reeks, it smells like expired yogurt. It sucks because it’s a long drive to return it.”
Another thread echoes a similar sentiment. “Every time it’s seemed okay visually, but the texture is off and everything tastes like it’s mildly fermented,” the disappointed Costco shopper wrote. “It’s always been before the best-by dates as well! Really frustrating and weird to see something that looks fine, but is funkified at its core.”
How long does precut fruit last?
The answer to this isn’t black and white. According to the USDA, the storage times for fresh fruits in general vary greatly, between a few days up to several weeks. And that time period rapidly decreases if the fruit isn’t refrigerated, citing bruises and mold as signs of spoilage (duh).
That’s why the USDA suggests that once fruits and veggies have been cut, chopped or cooked, they should be refrigerated in covered containers or frozen in plastic freezer containers. And they strongly advise again leaving cut and peeled fruit at room temperature for more than two hours.
A few words on the science behind spoilage
To get a little nerdy, consider this: Fruit breathes. (Weird, we know.) It takes in oxygen and lets out carbon dioxide. While it’s “breathing,” it’s also producing a natural gas called ethylene, which acts as a ripening signal. Some fruits, like bananas and apples, are especially prone to ethylene production, which is why they ripen (and spoil) so quickly.
Inside each fruit is a mix of other compounds like ethanol and nitric oxide, all influencing how fast it softens, sweetens or sours. Different varieties even have different internal vibes, which is why one apple might stay crisp for weeks and another turns mealy in days.
Farmers and grocers can tweak storage conditions (like lowering oxygen or boosting CO2) to slow down the whole process. But even then, they can only do so much. And, thus, fruits can go bad.
When is it worth it to buy precut fruit trays at Costco?
Without literally peeling off the plastic lid to a Costco fruit tray, you’re simply not going to know if it will have that funky, fermented smell when you bring it home. However, if you’re having a barbecue or need large quantities of fruit for your kid’s class party, then taking a chance on the precut fruit tray may be worth it.
But, if you can eek out even the smallest amount of time to prep whole fruits yourself, you’ll save big and likely have better-quality snacks.
Should you also avoid uncut fruit at Costco?
There’s really no reason to avoid uncut fruit at Costco, as the quality of whole items is typically quite good. Perhaps the only reason to not buy packages of whole fruit at the retailer is if it only comes in 3-pound increments and you’re a small household. The most important thing to consider when weighing whether or not to buy a fresh food item in bulk is always: Will this amount get eaten before it, in theory, spoils? If the answer is yes, it will get eaten, then go for it.
Tips for prepping uncut fruit
- Wash and dry your fruit as soon as you bring it home, suggests Hise, to remove dirt and extend its “shelf” life.
- “Slice, cube or wedge apples, pears, peaches and your other fruits—and most importantly, refrigerate or freeze them in airtight containers or bags,” Hise says. “You can use lemon or lime juice on apples, pears or others that age quickly to keep them from browning.”
- Invest in a melon baller or pineapple corer to make the prepping process more efficient. After all, if it’s easy, there’s a better chance you’ll actually do it and stick with it!
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Sources:
- Laurie House, founder of the Passionate Penny Pincher; interviewed, May 2025
- Reddit: “Precut fruit quality”
- Reddit: “Beware the pre prepped fruit trays”
- USDA: “How should I store cut fruit and vegetables?”
- USDA: “How long can you store fruits and vegetables?”
- Journal of Food Science Technology: “Role of internal atmosphere on fruit ripening and storability—a review”
