• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

One Hot Oven

  • Home
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Cooking Tips
You are here: Home / Tips and Tricks / How To Keep Strawberries Fresh

How To Keep Strawberries Fresh

June 24, 2019 By Jere Cassidy 23 Comments

200Shares
Strawberries, oh how I love thee. What would we do without these juicy, sweet red berries?  Think about it, no strawberry ice cream or strawberry shortcakes. They really are w favorite fruit, and thanks to all the farmer’s markets and roadside strawberry stands we can buy these berries all summer long. Here are some great tips on How to Keep Strawberries Fresh so they stay sweet and tasty.
First Published: August 16, 2014… Last Updated: June 24, 2019

The Easy Way to Store Strawberries

Box of fresh strawberries

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 juicy strawberries

Basket of Strawberries
There is nothing worse than buying strawberries only to find them in your refrigerator shriveled up, soft, leathery and maybe even moldy.  This happens eventually but by following these tips you can keep your berries fresher longer.
This page may contain affiliate links, please see my full disclosure policy for details.

 

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.

Strawberries in a container to keep them fresh

Put another layer of paper towels over the strawberries.

Strawberries covered with a paper towel to keep them fresh

 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.

Strawberry container with condensation on lid

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

Look at these poor berries. I just left them in the fridge to fend for themselves and they have lost their bright red color, the green tops are dried up and are just not fresh. They just are not what you want to snack on, but don’t throw them away because they still have some great uses.
old strawberries that are not fresh

Tips for using old strawberries

  1. 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.
  2. Use older berries for strawberry jam.
  3. Make a strawberry butter for toast, biscuits, and pancakes.
  4. 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.

  1.  Fill a bowl with water and add a splash of white vinegar. The vinegar will kill the bacteria on the strawberries.
  2. Let soak for about five minutes.
  3. Drain the vinegar water and rinse the berries.

Here are some great recipes to use those beautiful red strawberries

Strawberry Curd Tarts

Strawberry Curd Tarts

Strawberry Raspberry Mousse
A frozen strawberry and raspberry cheesecake mousse
Don’t forget to Pin for later when you have fresh strawberries to keep.
How to keep strawberries fresh

Here are some of my favorite strawberry items you might like too.

My favorite container to store my berries in is the 9″ x 13″ Tupperware Storage Container.  The size is perfect for several pints of berries and the tight-fitting lid is perfect for keeping the berries fresh.


200Shares

Filed Under: Tips and Tricks

Previous Post: « Savory Mini Swiss Cheese Quiches
Next Post: No Bake Strawberry Shortcakes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marthana Sharp

    November 4, 2019 at 12:31 pm

    I have that exact piece of tupperware so I can’t wait for strawberry season, I am so trying your tip for keeping strawberries fresh. I am tired of throwing so many away. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  2. LA CONTESSA

    August 5, 2019 at 8:54 am

    We do the same with ZUCCHINI FLOWERS!

    Reply
  3. Geetanjali Tung

    July 18, 2019 at 3:19 am

    This guide is so helpful… Next time when I buy berries in large batches will follow your tips. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 19, 2019 at 9:58 pm

      I hope you try this tip, it really works so well.

      Reply
  4. Kushi

    July 14, 2019 at 9:25 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 17, 2019 at 5:07 pm

      Give it a try, it does work.

      Reply
  5. Jenni LeBaron

    July 13, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    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!

    Reply
  6. Kelly Anthony

    July 13, 2019 at 6:20 am

    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.

    Reply
  7. Amanda

    July 11, 2019 at 5:18 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 17, 2019 at 5:08 pm

      Thanks so much.

      Reply
  8. Stine Mari

    July 10, 2019 at 11:39 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 11, 2019 at 9:52 am

      This will definitely extend the berries.

      Reply
  9. Mirlene

    July 10, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 11, 2019 at 9:51 am

      The paper towels work like a charm.

      Reply
  10. April

    July 10, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 11, 2019 at 9:53 am

      Also works with blackberries and raspberries.

      Reply
  11. Jo Allison

    July 8, 2019 at 1:52 am

    I pretty much live on strawberries in the summer so your helpful tips will come really handy!

    Reply
  12. Mikayla

    July 7, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 11, 2019 at 9:54 am

      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.

      Reply
  13. Laura | Wandercooks

    July 7, 2019 at 10:53 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      July 11, 2019 at 9:55 am

      It is really simple and your berries will be happy.

      Reply
  14. Veena Azmanov

    July 7, 2019 at 9:58 pm

    Your information is so helpful. I love strawberries and this will really help to store some for a long time to relish.

    Reply
  15. Natalie

    July 7, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    This is such a great post with good tips for keeping strawberries! I always hate how strawberries turn bad so quickly.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Jere Cassidy owner of One Hot Oven

Connect with One Hot Oven

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome, I am Jerè

the baker at One Hot Oven. I love sharing recipes both sweet and savory that inspire you to bake at home. Food has a way of bringing us all together, from a simple batch of cookies to a three-tier cake. It is important to gather your family and friends around the table over delicious food, great conversation, joy, and laughter. Let’s bake something wonderful.

Your Favorites

Canning bread and butter pickles

Crispy Sweet Bread and Butter Pickles

Raspberry Sprinkle Cookies

Raspberry Sprinkle Cookies

Grilled Cherry Pandowdy

Grilled Cherry Pandowdy

pouring syrup on waffles

Overnight Raised Waffles – Crispy & Golden Brown

The One Hot Oven Ebook

Get Your Very Own Copy Of “10 Recipes Every Home Cook Should Have”

Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Do Not Sell My Persoanal Information
  • CCPA
  • ADA Accessibility Statement
A collage with four pictures of Valentines Cookies.

14 Favorite Valentine’s Day Cookie Recipes

Are you celebrating Valentine’s Day with your special loved one, your family, grandma, or even your best friend? One of the perfect ways to say “I Love You” is with something pretty and sweet. Don’t you agree? Here are the best 14 Favorite Valentine’s Day Cookie Recipes to share or to even give as a…

Read More

Copyright © 2021 · One Hot Oven | Designed & Maintained By Technology-Therapist