Whether they’re on our favorite Fruit Pizza or in our Easy Fruit Salad, we love to eat strawberries!
We Love Strawberries!
The family loves fruit, especially sweet strawberries. And with 6 kids we buy them in bulk. However, disappointment sets in when we find that a large portion of them have spoiled and are unusable after just a day or two. Over the years we have tried different storage methods to keep the strawberries fresh longer and we are excited to share the results. It’s one of our favorite kitchen tips! Here’s why you need these tips:
Money saver. With less spoiled fruit, we save money and waste less! Strawberry recipes. We use strawberries in some of our favorite desserts, salads, and even drinks, and the fresher the better! An easy process. It isn’t difficult to extend the life of your strawberries, you just need to know the proper methods!
Inspect Before Purchasing
Unlike bananas or peaches, strawberries do not continue to ripen once they have been picked. When choosing, pick up the container of strawberries to ensure they are neither underripe nor overripe, but just ripe.
Preparing the Strawberries
Rinsing. Many people like to rinse their strawberries with water or soak them in a white vinegar bath. It has been my experience that pre-rinsing introduces excess moisture that reduces the shelf life. I suggest only rinsing the amount of berries you plan to use right before preparing them to serve. Hulled. Unless you plan to use the strawberries within 1-2 days do not hull (remove the stem) or cut the strawberries. Storing the whole berries with the stems on allows them to last longer.
Where to Store
While they will keep for a few hours on the counter they are best when stored in the refrigerator.
Refrigerate strawberries. When properly stored, ripe strawberries should be able to last in the fridge for 3-7 days. A crisper drawer is designed to regulate the amount of moisture and will help keep your fruit fresh. Store fruits that emit ethylene like apples and avocados away from strawberries as the ethylene will ripen the strawberries faster. Freezing strawberries. Wash, dry completely, and hull them. Freeze the strawberries whole, halved, or sliced. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. Once solid, transfer them to Ziploc freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible – vacuum seal for best results. They can last up to 6-8 months, but for the best quality, it’s recommended to use them within 2-3 months. (These are perfect for throwing in a Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie or Kale Smoothie!)
Recipe Video
