How to Store Globe Artichoke
Fresh artichokes are best used soon after harvest, but they hold up reasonably well in the refrigerator when kept cold and moist. The goal is to slow moisture loss so the buds stay tight and the stems do not shrivel.
Best storage conditions
Store near 32 to 40 degrees F with high humidity, ideally around 90 to 95 percent. A crisper drawer works well for a few heads at a time.
How long it keeps
Refrigerated whole and unwashed, most artichokes keep about 1 to 2 weeks, though quality is best in the first several days. At room temperature they dry out and toughen quickly.
Storage methods
Refrigerate whole, unwashed buds in a loosely closed plastic bag, sprinkling on a little water to keep them from drying. Wash only just before you cook them. Trimmed hearts held for later use can be kept briefly in cold water with a squeeze of lemon.
Freezing & preserving
Cooked hearts freeze well: trim, cook them in water with lemon, cool, and freeze in airtight containers. Marinated artichoke hearts are a popular preserve. For any canning, use only tested USDA or National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) recipes. Plain artichokes are a low-acid vegetable, so unacidified packs require pressure canning, while marinated or pickled versions are acidified for a boiling-water bath; follow the tested recipe exactly.
Tips
Rub cut and trimmed surfaces with lemon and hold them in acidulated water to slow browning, and cook in a nonreactive (stainless or enamel) pot so the color stays truer.
General home-storage guidance. For home canning and preserving safety, follow USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) guidelines. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.