Fruit Salad Recipe

A fruit salad is the perfect side dish for many occasions. In this post, we’ll share tips for how to make fruit salads that people will LOVE, tips for picking and preparing favorite fruits, along with our recipe for a classic and perfect fruit salad, along with other fruit salad variations. If you are looking to make an amazing fresh fruit salad, you are going to love this article!

Fruit salad is a great dinner side dish, and it’s also the perfect dish to take to a cookout, family gathering, or summer event. And it’s even better when you have the best dip ever to go with it!

After seeing the popularity of our post on how to make a veggie platter it only made sense to talk about a fruit salad next!

In this article, we will share with you the best fruits for fruit salads, different variations, and how to make sure they stay as fresh and delicious as possible.

You can put almost any fruit into a salad, but it’s good to plan in advance to make sure you have a variety of colors and textures. Here are some of the fruits I would choose for the best fruit salad (and which ones you might want to avoid):

Fruits for Fruit Salad

One thing to keep in mind is that just because something is on this list, doesn’t mean it will pair perfectly with everything else on this list. To make the perfect fruit salad, you really need to make sure the fruits go well together.

• Watermelon
• Red apples
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Oranges
• Mandarin Oranges
• Cantaloupe
• Bananas
• Pineapple
• Pears
• Honeydew melon
• Green apples
• Kiwi
• Green grapes, sliced if feeding kids
• Blueberries
• Red grapes
• Blackberries
• Pomegranate seeds

Fruits to Avoid for Fruit Salad

• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Cherries
• Pears
• Mango
• Dried fruit

Color variety helps make the salad more attractive. Think about a rainbow and try to bring in fruit from each color to make an appealing salad. A few favorites are strawberries, grapes, bananas, and apples. Depending on the season, you can add watermelon, kiwi, blueberries, or raspberries.

Fruits like peaches and nectarines don’t work as well because they are slippery and change color very quickly. There are many ways to do your peaches. Our grilled peaches recipe is also a delicious treat that you can try at your home. While the discoloration doesn’t change the flavor, it isn’t as attractive. Bananas and apples technically fall into this category, but because they’re a fan favorite, especially with kids, they’re a great fruit to include in the salad. And they’re low-cost, which is always a bonus!

Ingredients

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup sliced kiwi
• 2 sliced bananas
• 1/2-1 cup green grapes
• 1.5 cups watermelon, cubed
• 1.5 cups cantelope, cubed

Instructions

1. Wash all your vegetables that need to be washed
2. Sliced the kiwi, watermelon, and cantelope – as well as the grapes if there will be young children
3. Toss in a bowl and refrigerate with blueberries and kiwi
4. Right before you are ready to serve it, slice the blueberries and fold in
5. Serve immediately and refrigerate the leftovers

Fruit Salad Variations

There are many different variations of fruit salad – there is sure to be one that is just perfect for your special occasion. While you can easily just throw together a few fruits and call it good, sometimes it’s valuable to have some rhyme or reason for what you’re doing.

Here are a few of our favorite “recipes” and versions that you might enjoy. They all have a different combination of fruits. You may want to look up a specific recipe online to make sure you get the proportions correct, though you can definitely experiment.

Add a juice

Adding some fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, or lime juice can really help spruce up a salad. Make sure you do it sparingly – you don’t want the fruit swimming in juice. But these can really make a fruit salad even more delightful.

Add non-fruit items

Sometimes it’s fun to add a different dimension to the fruit salad with some non-fruit items:

• Poppyseeds
• Nuts
• Chia Seeds
• Mint
• Maple Syrup
• Touch of Honey
• Shaved or Flaked Coconut
• Sprinkling of sugar
• Cool Whip
• Pudding Mix
• Marshmallows

Christmas fruit salad

Fruit salad is great for Christmas time. For this, I would include a variety of red (or purple) and green fruits. Here are a few suggestions:

• Red Grapes
• Green Grapes
• Kiwi
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Pomegranate seeds
• Drizzle with a little bit of honey – ah, delicious!

Thanksgiving Fruit salad

While we are discussing holidays, a Thanksgiving dinner is never complete without a fruit salad. Here is an idea that would be very delicious!

• Apples
• Mandarin Oranges
• Walnuts or Pecans
• Dried Cranberries
• Red Grapes
• Pomegranate Seeds
• Optional – toss in a Cool Whip or honey yogurt dressing

Citrus Fruit Salad

My favorite type of fruit is citrus, so I think this would top my list. Here are some different citrus fruits:

• Oranges
• Mandarin Oranges
• Tangelo
• Grapefruit
• Lime or Lemon (maybe just the juice)
• Tangerine
• Kumquat

Keep in mind that this can be pretty zingy, so you may need to place it with the proportions to get it just right.

Tropical Fruit Salad

I also love anything tropical! Ah, this one sounds amazing just thinking about it:

• Mandarin Oranges
• Pineapple
• Flaked Coconut
• Kiwi
• Dragon Fruit
• Papaya
• Banana
• Mint

Winter Fruit Salad Recipe

Perfect for the winter months!

• Tangerines
• Pomegranate seeds
• Kiwis
• Granny Smith Apples
• Red Gala Apples

Rainbow Fruit Salad

A rainbow fruit salad should just have a variety of fruits – one for every color of the rainbow! Here’s a fun mixture to try:

• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Kiwis or Green Grapes
• Bananas or Golden Delicious Apples
• Blueberries
• Purple grapes

Apple Fruit Salad

This is exactly what it sounds like – use a combination of your favorite apples for a fun apple fruit salad. You may also enjoy our Snickers apple fruit salad, too!

Creamy Fruit Salad

Add cool whip or whipped cream to any fruit salad to make it taste a little more creamy!

How should you serve a fruit salad?

Serving a fruit salad in a large bowl is usually my favorite method. I like to have a separate, small bowl for each person eating, so the fruit doesn’t drip over to other food (no one likes a roll covered in fruit juice!).

How To Store Fruit Salad

Storing homemade fruit salad properly is essential to maintain freshness and prevent the fruits from becoming mushy or developing off flavors. Refrigerate the fruit salad as soon as possible after preparing it. Bacteria multiply at room temperature, so prompt refrigeration helps maintain the quality and safety of the fruit.  Transfer the fruit salad to a clean and airtight container.

A container with a tight-fitting lid helps prevent exposure to air and odors from the refrigerator.  Ideally, consume the homemade fruit salad within 1-2 days for the best quality.

The texture of fruits can change over time, and they may release juices that affect the overall consistency of the salad.

Can You Make Fruit Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can absolutely make fruit salad ahead of time, but there are some key considerations to ensure the best quality and freshness. While you can wash and prepare some fruits ahead of time, it’s best to cut more delicate fruits (like bananas and apples) closer to the time you plan to serve the salad. These fruits tend to brown, and their texture can change if cut too far in advance. 

If your fruit salad includes fruits that are prone to browning, consider tossing them in a bit of citrus juice (lemon, lime, or orange) to help preserve their color. This is particularly useful for fruits like apples, pears, and bananas. 

Once the fruit salad is assembled, refrigerate it promptly. Refrigeration slows down the ripening process and helps maintain the quality of the fruits.  store the fruit salad in airtight containers to prevent the absorption of odors from the refrigerator and to minimize exposure to air, which can lead to the drying out of fruits.

While fruit salads can be made a day in advance, it’s ideal to consume them within 24-48 hours for the best texture and flavor. Some fruits release juices over time, affecting the overall consistency of the salad.

How much fruit should I plan on per person?

While this can vary greatly, you can generally plan on about half a cup to a cup of fruit per person. Some will eat more, others will eat less, but it generally evens out with that amount.

What can I serve with the salad?

A good fruit salad will be amazing on its own, but preparing a dip will make it everyone’s favorite side.

It makes for a great side at any BBQ or potluck!

Fruit Dip Ideas

What is a fruit salad without a fruit dip?! The simplest recipes are often the best, and people always love them.

You might also want to use an easy fruit salad dressing – we have a fantastic bright honey-lime fruit salad dressing that is super popular with fruit salads.

Click here for my favorite three-ingredient fruit dip recipe. If you want something a little different, this cool whip fruit dip recipe is to die for.

How Long Will Fruit Salad With Cool Whip Last?

The shelf life of a fruit salad with Cool Whip depends on various factors, including the types of fruits used, the freshness of the ingredients, and how the salad is stored. The freshness of the fruits used in the salad is a crucial factor. If the fruits are very ripe or starting to show signs of spoilage when you make the salad, it will have a shorter shelf life.  Cool Whip is a stabilized whipped topping, and it tends to hold up well in refrigerated conditions.

However, it can start to break down over time, especially if the fruit salad is stored for an extended period.

How to prevent fruits from turning brown

Certain fruits are more likely to turn brown quickly – such as apples and bananas. While they may taste okay for a little while, there are few things that make a fruit salad less appetizing than brown, mushy fruit.

There are a few different methods for preventing this:

• Squirt lemon juice on fruits that are more likely to turn brown
• Fruit Fresh is a powder that you can sprinkle on fruit to help prevent browning and to stay fresh for longer

Is fruit salad healthy?

Fruit salads are typically very high in vitamin C and other vitamins which makes them a healthy choice for most people. You should also consider what else is served with the fruit salad because it can quickly turn into an unhealthy option if it’s paired with lots of fatty dressings or other toppings. Fruit snacks are a healthier alternative in most cases.

Other Salads You May Enjoy:

• Easy Strawberry Jello Salad
• Easy Snickers Salad with Apple
• 5 Ingredient BLT Pasta Salad
• Easy Avocado, Corn, and Black Bean Salad
• Easy Watergate Jello Salad
• Easy Red Skin Potato Salad with Bacon (Stove and Instant Pot Instructions)
• Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad