Did you know?
Strawberries are grown worldwide and are the most popular berry.
Strawberries are the only fruit that has seeds on the outside.
I usually but three baskets of strawberries so we can eat them all week. We mostly just cut them up and eat them plain, or we add to our salads, smoothies, and water for a delightful fruity taste.
Once you get your berries home make sure to get them into the refrigerator because these berries like to stay cold.
red, ripe, and jucy
The Care and Keeping of Strawberries
1. First and foremost – Do Not Wash The Strawberries – wash them when you are ready to eat them.
2. Get a flat container with a lid large enough to hold the berries in a single layer. I love my Tupperware container.
3. Put a layer of paper towel on the bottom of the container
4. Put the strawberries on top in a single layer
5. Put another piece of paper towel on top of the strawberries
6. Cover with the lid and put in the fridge
7. When you take the strawberries out of the fridge to eat wipe off the condensation on the lid – berries do not like moisture.
Paper towels in the bottom of the container to keep the berries dry.
Put another layer of paper towels over the strawberries.
Condensation will form on the top of the tip while you are storing the strawberries in the refrigerator so every time you get the berries out just wipe the condensation off the lid. Remember you want your berries to stay dry.
There you have it. Follow this simple trick for keeping your strawberries cold and dry and your berries will stay fresher longer.
How to use those not so perfect strawberries
Tips for using old strawberries
- Pick over the berries to make sure they are not molded then rinse the berries, dry completely then cut off the green tops. Put the berries in a plastic freezer bag and freeze for baking.
- Use older berries for strawberry jam.
- Make a strawberry butter for toast, biscuits, and pancakes.
- Make a quick strawberry sauce to add to desserts. You can even freeze the strawberry sauce for later.
One last set of tips before you go. Here is the best way to wash your berries.
- Fill a bowl with water and add a splash of white vinegar. The vinegar will kill the bacteria on the strawberries.
- Let soak for about five minutes.
- Drain the vinegar water and rinse the berries.
Here are some great recipes to use those beautiful red strawberries
Here are some of my favorite strawberry items you might like too.
We do the same with ZUCCHINI FLOWERS!
This guide is so helpful… Next time when I buy berries in large batches will follow your tips. Thanks for sharing!
I hope you try this tip, it really works so well.
Thank you so much for sharing the tips and tricks to keep them fresh. I always discard most of it as it turns bad quickly. I will refer this for sure next time I bring strawberries.
Give it a try, it does work.
I’ve never tried this method, but I am always eager to learn how I can keep my berries last longer so there’s no waste!
This is a great post on how to keep strawberries fresh longer. I’ve been following these steps for years and it really does make a huge difference.
This is so helpful! I always load up on fresh berries during the summer, and sometimes I have a hard time eating them fast enough. Great tips!
Thanks so much.
Strawberry season is incredibly short in Norway and I tend to spend a few weeks of that season on vacation (like now!), so when I get home I always buy a BIG tray of strawberries. I will definitely use this guide when I do so, I haven’t used paper towels like that before. Great tips.
This will definitely extend the berries.
That was so interesting to read about the seeds on the outside! 🙂 In fact, I am storing strawberries similar to what you are describing. It works every time!
The paper towels work like a charm.
This is the biggest challenge, no doubt. In fact, not only with strawberries but pretty much anything else. But yes, it is fresh strawberries that can really make a difference. Love the tip on paper towel pieces!
Also works with blackberries and raspberries.
I pretty much live on strawberries in the summer so your helpful tips will come really handy!
I always go nuts at those roadside stands and buy half a flat! This post is exactly what I needed to keep them good for as long as possible. Thank you!
The best strawberry stand is 45 minutes away from me and if I know I won’t back soon I buy a 1/2 flat which is more than I need but this trick definitely keeps them fresher longer.
Oh my gosh, it’s been like a pebble in my shoe how often strawberries go bad in the fridge before we get to use them – no longer! Such a simple fix, thank you!
It is really simple and your berries will be happy.
Your information is so helpful. I love strawberries and this will really help to store some for a long time to relish.
This is such a great post with good tips for keeping strawberries! I always hate how strawberries turn bad so quickly.