Whether you’ve just harvested all your June berries, or you made out like a bandit at the local pick-yiour-own, you need a way to extend the life of those berries.
So, what is the best way to keep strawberries fresh? Soak them in a mild vinegar solution (the vinegar taste will not carry over, once they are fully cleaned). Rinse thoroughly and dry, before refridgerating. Never remove the stems or hull, until just before using.
That’s the quick answer; but, of course, there are full details on the procedure listed below, so you’ll be confident that you’re giving your berries the best shelf-life possible.
It’s hard to resist a great price on strawberries; but always have a plan for them before you commit yourself at the checkout counter. They don’t last very long. Agricultural extension experts for the University of California system tell us:
Strawberries can only be stored for up to 7 days under optimum conditions, and that shelf life also depends on how ripe the fruit was when purchased or picked.”
University of California
Won’t They Stay Fresh Longer, if I Rinse Them?
One would think that rinsing the stuff off them and putting them away will keep them fresher. Not quite, according to the University of Arkansas Extension:
Strawberries are like small sponges and soak up all the water they come into contact with, and once they’ve soaked it up, they are quicker to turn to mush and mold even if they’ve been thoroughly patted dry.”
University of Arkansas Extension
Best Method for Keeping Strawberries Fresh
Giving your strawberries a pre-soak in a vinegar solution is the best way to extend their life. Here’s how:
- Lay the berries in a 13” x 9” baking pan. Mix 3/4 cup of vinegar into 3 cups of water. Pour this solution over the berries. Let soak for five minutes.
- After soaking, pour off the solution. Fill the pan several times with clean water, draining after each fill.
- Spread out a clean, cotton towel. Place the strawberries on it to dry, turning once.
- Meanwhile, use hot, soapy water to wash out the plastic box in which the strawberries came. Knock out the excess water. Dry gently with a clean towel. Leaving the box open, set aside to allow it to dry fully.
- Tear paper towels into pieces that fit the box. Fit one piece into the bottom of the box.
- When the berries have dried, layer them into their box, separating each layer with a piece of paper towel. Close box and refrigerate.
Yes, They make a Container for That!
I can’t resist making a plug for Rubbermaid’s produce storage containers, including this one, made especially for berries (view it here). You may wonder why you would pay for a container, when the berries come with a free box. Then, your child puts the milk jug against that berry box, and smashes it by forcing the refrigerator door closed.
The container is popular with shoppers, too; like this fellow, who is also a fan of the vinegar soak:
I wash my fruit with vinegar+water as soon as I buy them, then store them in the fridge. I split the package of strawberries pictured below in 2, 1/2 went into the rubber maid container. This is what it looks like 20 days later. It works.”
Mr. J, Amazon Reviews
