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The Spruce Eats / Sabrina Jiang
Fruit makes an excellent addition to nearly any meal and serves as a satisfying snack, but it’s one of the hardest foods to keep fresh. The right storage bowl can help keep your fruit fresher longer and keep it from taking over your counter space.
There are plenty of options to choose from, such as space-saving hanging or tiered baskets and decorative stoneware or wooden bowls. Fruit bowls range in size, price, and purpose, so whether you want to keep certain fruits separate, use them as a tasty centerpiece for your table, or simply have a convenient way to store the ingredients for your daily smoothie, finding the perfect fruit bowl (or basket) for the job is key. We researched the best fruit bowls to store apples, oranges, bananas, and more to save you money, space, and time.
Best Overall
TomCare 2-Tier Metal Fruit Basket
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Amazon
Ample space
Can be used tiered or separately
Breathable design
Lower cost
Tricky to assemble
This fruit bowl is budget-conscious, functional, and stylish—making it a fantastic choice for just about anyone. The two-tiered basket is endlessly versatile since it can be stacked or separated into two standalone baskets, depending on your space and needs. Separating the two is a cinch—the screw-free design allows you simply to squeeze the legs to release them from the basket above. If you do want to use the basket in tiered form, you’ll love how sturdy it is. There’s minimal risk of tipping, thanks to circular feet that provide plenty of balance, which is a great feature for larger fruits like mangoes or papayas.
The baskets are 10.6 x 7.3 x 4 inches and 11.7 x 7.5 x 4 inches, so there’s plenty of room to store everything neatly and safely (read: without bruising)—even if you buy fruit in bulk. The total height of the stacked baskets measures just over 15 inches.
Price at time of publish: $21
Material: Metal | Weight: 3.32 pounds | Dimensions: 11.7 x 7.5 x 15.35 inches | Care: Hand wash only
Best Wooden
Williams Sonoma Walnut Tiered Fruit Bowl
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Williams Sonoma
Ample space
Sophisticated design
Versatile
Expensive
Difficult to clean
Delicate material
There’s something about a wooden fruit bowl that just looks so sophisticated. This one, which is hand-carved out of American black walnut, is no different. This is largely because of the natural material and the way it’s made—each bowl will have slight variations that make it one-of-a-kind. Unlike other wooden bowls, this particular one is tiered for maximum storage space. There are two levels of bowls—a smaller one on the top and a larger one on the bottom—to accommodate all different types and sizes of fruit.
Also, because of the sophisticated design of this multi-level fruit bowl, you add it to your existing collection of serving dishes and pieces for serving appetizers, breakfast pastries, or even desserts.
Price at time of publish: $300
Material: Black walnut wood | Weight: 4.44 pounds | Dimensions: 15 x 14 inches | Care: Hand-wash with mild soap and water, dry with a soft cloth
Best Stoneware
Pottery Barn Emma Beaded Stoneware Footed Serving Bowl
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Pottery Barn
Attractive
Versatile
Dishwasher-safe
Limited storage space
If style is more important than function to you, consider this classic white option. The beautiful beaded bowl has a very regal shape and design that looks right at home in nearly any kitchen. It’s relatively functional, too, thanks to a deep bowl that comfortably holds a dozen or more decently-sized fruits like pears or apples.
This piece is more than just a fruit bowl, which makes it more versatile and helps you get the most bang for your buck. Fill it with citrus and use it as a summery centerpiece—Pottery Barn sells a whole suite of dinnerware to match, so your table will have a nice cohesive look. It’s also microwave-, oven-, and dishwasher-safe, so you can even use it as a serving dish.
Price at time of publish: $58
Material: Glazed stoneware | Capacity: 3.25 quarts | Dimensions: 12.25 x 6.5 inches | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best for Ripening
Uncommon Goods Just Ripe Fruit Bowl
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Uncommon Goods
Ample space
Separate compartments
Upscale aesthetic
Expensive
Delicate material
Anyone who keeps a lot of produce in the house knows that the hardest part of keeping a fresh kitchen is, well, keeping that food fresh. This innovative fruit bowl helps solve that problem, thanks to three totally separate spaces for ripening fruit. Ready-to-eat produce goes on top of the bamboo tray, while anything that’s not quite ready goes in the vented glass bowl, and bananas (ripe or not) hang on the built-in hook suspended from above.
The smart design elements don’t stop there, though. The entire piece is designed to fit under kitchen cabinets but is still roomy enough to accommodate an entire week’s worth of produce. (It’s short and squat for just this reason!)
Price at time of publish: $68
Material: Glass, bamboo | Capacity: 5.31 quarts | Dimensions: 17.5 x 11 | Care: Wash with warm, soapy water and dry immediately
Best Tiered
Simple Houseware 2-Tier Countertop Fruit Basket Bowl Storage
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Amazon
Ample space
Breathable design
Affordable
Difficult to assemble
There are obvious benefits to a tiered solution for fruit storage, namely the fact that it helps preserve precious counter space since each basket is stacked one on top of the other. This traditional tiered option—it has a larger basket on the bottom and a smaller basket on top—has a sturdy basket-style design with a bronze coating that adds elegance. You won’t struggle to get fruit in and out of these baskets, either; There’s plenty of space between tiers to help you maneuver.
Because the baskets themselves are also nice and roomy, there’s plenty of real estate for those who buy produce in bulk (think: entire bags of clementines and some apples or pears for daily smoothies). What’s more, the wiry, decorative design means there’s plenty of airflow to help prevent premature spoilage.
Price at time of publish: $20
Material: Metal | Weight: 2.77 pounds | Dimensions: 12.75 x 11.80 x 14.75 Inches | Care: Hand wash only
Best Hanging
Fox Run 3-Tier Copper Kitchen Hanging Fruit Baskets
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Amazon
Ample space
Multiple styles available
No assembly required
Does not come with installation hardware
If you have extremely limited counter space, need a lot of room to hold all of your produce, or purchase varieties that shouldn’t be stored together (storing some items together can lead to premature spoilage), a hanging basket is a great option. This one comes in five finishes—chrome, copper, gold, white, and green—to suit a wide range of aesthetics. The mesh is also very fine, so even little fruits (like small tomatoes!) won’t roll out and onto the floor. Still, it’s plenty breathable to help prolong the life of your produce.
Another plus: There’s no assembly required. The basket is ready to hang with a simple hook.
Price at time of publish: $16
Material: Iron | Weight: 11 ounces | Dimensions: 1 x 11 x 14.5 inches | Care: Wipe clean
Best Over-the-Door
B.N.D. Top Hanging Fruit Basket
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Amazon
Ample space
Clever design
No counter space required
Easy to assemble
Expensive
Determined to find a way to add a fruit storage solution to your kitchen but don't have the square footage for a hanging basket or the counter space for a standalone bowl? Try this clever option. A thoughtful piece of pantry organization, it hangs over the top of the door to maximize space yet provides a truly impressive amount of room for your produce.
The three-basket storage solution is made from sturdy thick-gauge iron that easily holds 50-plus pounds of produce. It even has an included banana holder hook for added functionality. If you don't need that much space but still love the look, the basket's modular design makes it easy to disassemble into just one or two separate baskets.
Price at time of publish: $50
Material: Iron | Weight: 7.48 pounds | Dimensions: 13.54 x 12.17 x 5.12 inches
Best Mesh
Crate & Barrel Barrett Banana Holder with Basket in Graphite
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Crate & Barrel
High-style design
Ample space
Hanging hook for bananas
Difficult to clean
Though many mesh baskets look inexpensive and unsophisticated, this handcrafted iron option is in a league of its own. The delicate vertical lines make the piece look exceptionally modern and elevated—especially for a dedicated fruit basket.
It’s plenty functional, too. The low, wide-set bowl provides plenty of space for produce of all kinds, perfect for the kitchen counter. Plus, a connected hook serves as a place to suspend an entire bunch of bananas. Despite the top-heavy feature, it’s nice and sturdy thanks to the circular feet on the base of the bowl.
Price at time of publish: $30
Material: Iron with graphite finish | Dimensions: 11.5 x 14.75 inches | Care: Wipe clean with damp cloth
Our best overall fruit bowl is the TomCare Two-Tier Fruit Basket because it’s functional and stylish yet budget-conscious. You’ll love how much storage space it affords and will appreciate the possibility of using each tier together or separately. We also liked the Just Ripe Fruit Bowl because of its ability to extend your fruits' lifespan, as well as the convenient, compact size.
What to Look for in a Fruit Bowl
Material
Fruit bowls are made from such materials as wire mesh, wood, glass, ceramic, plastic, and metals. Some materials, including plastic and non-mesh metal, can actually speed up the ripening process, so the fruit needs to be eaten more quickly.
Design
Choose the style that will fit best in your home and will also hold the amount of fruit that you want readily available and on display. Counter space can be at a premium in homes, so a two- or three-tiered fruit basket or a hanging basket can help save you that precious room.
Volume
How much fruit will you and/or your family eat in a week? If you live alone, then you shouldn't need as large a fruit basket as someone who has a family. At the same time, you don't want to go too small since more crowded fruit bowls allow for less air circulation, which can lead to premature rotting.
Ease of Cleaning
Since it's important to change or wash your fruit bowl often (in order to lower the risk of fruit flies, mold, or bacteria), pay attention to the care instructions while choosing your piece. If the bowl is more difficult to clean, make sure that it has good circulation. Fruit bowls must also be dried completely to avoid adding residual moisture to your produce, so materials like wood may need more attention than, say, ceramic or glass fruit bowls.
FAQs
Should you keep your fruit bowl on the counter all the time?
Fruit bowls are handy to keep in plain sight during the day, especially to encourage kids to eat their fruit. But, at night, to help keep your fruit at its freshest, you should consider storing the fruit bowl in the refrigerator.
Should bananas touch other fruit?
Bananas produce a gas that can make the fruit around them ripen and even spoil faster than they normally would. Some fruits are more sensitive to this gas than others. Also, keep in mind that not just bananas, but other fruits (including apples), also produce this type of gas.
Do you need to wash a fruit bowl?
Yes! Fruit bowls, like any other bowl or plate, need to be kept clean and should be washed once a week at least. This can also help to keep those pesky fruit flies away. Make sure it's completely dry before restocking with fruit.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer who has spent the last 10-plus years researching the best home goods and kitchen items for various digital publications, including The Spruce and Good Housekeeping. From kitchen storage solutions to small appliances, she’s covered it all.
Allison Wignall, who updated this article, is a writer who focuses on food and travel. She’s always in the kitchen trying to recreate recipes from around the world. Her work has been featured in publications, such as Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living.