Nothing says “Hello Summer” quite like fresh strawberries that have been ripened to perfection.
I grew up near a “Pick Your Own” strawberry field and one of my favorite things to do in the summer was to grab a few baskets and sit out under the sun picking mountains of delicious strawberries. There was nothing like sitting in a strawberry patch with red-stained fingers, dirt on my knees and endless amounts of strawberries everywhere I looked.
With the warm summer months right around the corner, you will probably start to see shelves being lined with delicious, plump strawberries waiting to be eaten or used in recipes. I tend to buy container after container of strawberries and then find myself rushing around the kitchen trying to come up with different ways to use them before they spoil. Like many fruits, fresh strawberries do not last long so it is important to properly store them to get the most use out of them.
Tips for Keeping Strawberries Fresher Longer
Selecting Strawberries:
- Pick your own strawberries from a local strawberry field in order to get the most natural and best-tasting strawberries. If you do not have this option, stop by a farmers market or make sure that the strawberries at your neighborhood grocery store are locally grown.
- Choose strawberries that are are completely ripened. Once strawberries are harvested, they no longer continue to ripen so it’s important that you choose strawberries that are plump, firm, rich in color and very fragrant.
- Select strawberries that are dry in unstained containers. Wet strawberries are more susceptible to mold and stained containers usually means that there are soft strawberries present.
Storing Strawberries:
- Sort through the strawberries before storing and separate the firm, full berries from the soft berries. Also, discard any spoiled berries.
- Leave the caps on the strawberries until you are ready to eat or use them.
- Do not wash the strawberries before putting them in the refrigerator. Strawberries absorb water so washing them will only make them soggy and soft.
- Place strawberries in an airtight container on a paper towel in a single layer and store in the refrigerator until ready to eat or use.
What are your favorite techniques that you use to keep strawberries fresher longer?
Great tips! We always go to the Strawberry Fields in Carlsbad and pick our own strawberries!
Great post! I wasn't storing them as well as I could be. Thanks for the tips.
Great tips; I will definitely use these!
I love strawberries. I can't get enough!
Great info…we love strawberries here!
Great tips! People always look at me strangely when I smell the strawberries in the store, but you're right that the more fragrant they are, the better they will taste.
Perfect information for the summer coming!!
I always smell my strawberries at the store, too. I'm usually glad I did because some strawberries have zero smell, as if they were picked way too early or frozen during transport. The ones with the most wonderful scent end up in my cart!
Mix 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts water and dip entire strawberry in for a few minutes. Take out and place in colendar til dry and store in fridge in open container. This kils mould spores so keeps for longer. Does not affect taste :-)
we tried this method and it seemed to haved worked well
My favorite technique of storing strawberries is popping them in my stomach.
Hello! I am Nuni, thanks for the tips, lately I am selling a lot strawberries my trouble is sended out of town, hope you can share more tips for solved it