Fruit Salad with Honey Dressing

I love to make fruit salads year-round. Some of my favorites aren't fresh or in season during certain parts of the year (mostly mango and peaches!). These can be purchased frozen and thawed for the salad.f

The lime juice used in the dressing will prevent the fruit from browning. Lime juice is acidic, and it reacts with the enzymes that cause oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that causes fruit to turn brown. When you coat fruit with lime juice, you are essentially stopping the oxidation process in its tracks.

Lemon juice and vinegar will do the same thing.

Chill the fruit salad: For the best taste and texture, chill the fruit salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

It will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator. But, it is best to eat it within 24 hours of making it. If you store the fruit salad in an airtight container, it will last longer. Avoid leaving the fruit salad at room temperature for more than two hours, as bacteria can grow rapidly at warm temperatures.

If you store the salad in an airtight container with paper towels, it will last longer.

Keep in mind some fruits, such as bananas and apples, tend to brown quickly when cut and exposed to air. Because the fruit is served with dressing, the longer you take to eat it, the more risk you have the fruit will get soggy.

I like to drain excess dressing for this reason. Once you coat the fruit in dressing and refrigerate for 30 minutes, it will soak up the honey lime flavor.

My Honey Lime Dressing is my favorite addition to this salad! The dressing adds a natural sweetness, the lime juice provides a bright and zesty flavor that balances perfectly with the fruit. Here are more options:
Citrus dressing: Anything with fresh orange, lemon, or lime juice is gonna wake that whole salad up. It’s bright, fresh, and works with pretty much any fruit you throw in.
Yogurt dressing: If you want it creamy, this is it. It’s smooth, a little tangy, and perfect with berries, melons, and apples.
Mint dressing: Super fresh and cooling. This one hits especially good with tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and papaya.
Poppy seed dressing: Sweet with a little tang. This is a classic for strawberries, blueberries, and mandarins.
Balsamic dressing: That tangy, slightly sweet vibe pairs really well with peaches, nectarines, and strawberries. It just works.

Cut the fruit into bite-sized pieces: Cut the fruit into pieces that are roughly the same size so that they are easy to eat and blend well together. Remove any seeds, stems, or tough parts.