How Far Ahead Of Time Can You Make Fruit Kebabs?

Simple to make and eat, fruit kabobs are a fresh snack that can be customized to fit anyone's personal taste. Perfect for summer, they make a great poolside refresher or picnic treat, but can really be enjoyed any time of the year as a nutritious lunchtime snack or even an appetizer.

For a fun twist, Food Network suggests arranging a few fruits of different types on the skewers to create an edible rainbow. Prefer to stick with a solid color scheme? All-red kebabs with cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and apples are a fun way to get in your daily dose of fruit. For an added flair, you can also drizzle some chocolate (white, milk, or dark — there's no wrong answer when it comes to chocolate) on the kebabs at the very end. You can also cut your fruit slices into fun shapes using small cookie cutters if you really want to take your presentation to the next level (via Carlsbad Cravings)!

Of course, prepping your fruit kebabs ahead of time is great for convenience, but anyone who has opened a lunch box and been greeted by a brown apple or slimy banana knows fruit can go bad if it is cut up too early.

For the freshest flavor, fruit kebabs should be prepared as close as possible to when they will be eaten. If you absolutely must prepare your fruit kebabs in advance, they should be made no longer than 24 hours ahead of when you plan to eat them, according to food blogger Carlsbad Cravings. While this may seem like a short window, making your fruit kebabs as close as possible to when you want to serve them ensures that the fruit stays fresh and the colors vibrant. To store your pre-made kebabs, simply put them in the fridge on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and covered with plastic wrap to prevent the fruit from being too exposed to air.

Certain fruits (like apples and bananas, as noted above) can brown or wrinkle if exposed to air for too long, so you may want to consider adding an extra precautionary step to keep your kebabs looking bright. Livestrong recommends spraying fruit kebabs with a little diluted lemon juice, stating that the amount needed shouldn't have a huge impact on the flavor. If you're not sold on a potentially sour strawberry, Epicurious says both saltwater and thinned honey can also be used to slow browning.

Fruit kebabs are a great addition to any barbecue or backyard party; If you plan to take your fruit kebabs on the go, check out this method for preventing the ice in your cooler from melting!