Looking for the best ways to wash and store strawberries so that they’re clean and well-preserved? Read our guide to washing and storing strawberries.
One of the joys of eating strawberries is how easy and convenient they are to eat. For so many fresh fruits and veggies, washing comes as a first step—a necessary precaution that makes sure you aren’t consuming pesticide residue or bacteria. But with strawberries, it’s super easy to pop them in your mouth straight from the container.
However, strawberries are often sprayed with pesticides or house microscopic bugs. It is important to properly wash and store strawberries so that they are safe to eat and will last longer than a few days. Without proper care, strawberries can perish very quickly. Let’s explore how to best wash and store strawberries so they’re safe and fresh to eat for days on end.
Start With a Vinegar Soak
Soaking your strawberries in vinegar helps to neutralize the PH of strawberries to keep them fresh for longer, and also helps to cleanse the strawberries of any harmful chemicals that the strawberries may have been treated with. A vinegar soak will also remove any harmful bacteria or germs that the strawberries may carry.
A vinegar soak can be done by filling a bowl with ⅓ part white vinegar and ⅔ parts cold water. Hot water can damage the texture of strawberries and cause them to perish faster, so it is best to use cool water. Hot water is not necessary to kill the germs and bacteria on the strawberries, the vinegar will do all of the work to make that the strawberries clean and safe to eat.
Soak the strawberries in vinegar for about 5 minutes. Any longer and the strawberries could start to absorb too much water, which could cause them to become mushy and perish more quickly. 5 minutes is enough time to properly cleanse the berries without causing any damage.
Rinse With Cold Water
To rinse, use a colander or other strainer and run cold water over the strawberries. You don’t need to wash them thoroughly, but it’s important to get rid of any dirt or bugs they might have. A soft brush might help you clean off any stubborn bits that stick to the berries.
The berries should be mostly clean after the vinegar soak, and the primary purpose of the cold water rinse is to ensure that there is no vinegar left on the berries which could affect the taste of the berries. Rinsing will also allow you to check that each berry is clean and free from excess dirt or debris.
Dry the Strawberries
Once the excess water has been removed, dry the berries on paper towels. This step is vital to ensure that the strawberries remain fresh, because excess moisture will cause the strawberries to mold quickly. A salad spinner works well for this task, but you can also use a clean kitchen towel to gently pat the berries dry if you don’t have one.
To remove even more moisture from your strawberries, you can use a hair dryer set on a low temperature or place the strawberries in front of a fan for a few minutes. If you still need to get rid of that last bit of water before storing them, place them in a single layer on top of paper towels and let them sit for an hour or two.
Remove the Hull from the Strawberries
The hull is the green, leafy part of the strawberries. Removing the hull of the strawberries preps them to be eaten later. Unlike some fruits and vegetables, strawberries do not need to be kept intact to maintain their freshness. In fact, removing the hull and slicing strawberries can help to preserve the freshness of the berries.
First, cut off the top of the strawberry (not too far down) with a sharp paring knife. Try not to cut into the fruit itself! Once you’ve removed it, use that same paring knife to gently slice away any green parts remaining on the strawberry—the green parts are technically edible and safe to eat, but they may not taste as nice as the rest of the strawberry.
Slice the Strawberries
It is not necessary to slice strawberries to store them, but it can help to preserve the freshness of the strawberries and makes them convenient to eat later. By slicing strawberries, you can keep an eye out of any bits of the strawberries that appear to be going bad.
Strawberries perish quickly, so there are bound to be a few spots here and there where the strawberry has darkened and lost its texture. These spots may not taste as good and will eventually expand until the entire strawberry has expired. By removing these spots, you prevent them from spreading. This will slow the perishing process of your strawberries so that they can be enjoyed for longer.
If your strawberries have no dark spots or signs of perishing, you may not need to slice them yet. As soon as any dark spots appear, slice the remaining berries so that they will perish more slowly.
In order to slice strawberries, place the strawberries on a cutting board and use a knife to slice bite-sized pieces. Cut out and discard any dark spots or signs of perishing on the berries. Your strawberries may stain your cutting board due to their bright red color, so it is best to use a cutting board specifically dedicated for cutting fruit, or a dark colored cutting board that the stains may not be as prominent on.
Store in a Glass Jar or Sealed Container in the Refrigerator
In order to ensure that your strawberries remain fresh for more than a few days, store them in a glass jar or sealed container. This will limit the oxygen exposure to the strawberries which can cause them to perish more quickly. It is important to store strawberries in the refrigerator, especially after they have been sliced.
Enjoy Strawberries for 5-7 Days
By following these steps, strawberries can last for five to seven days (or longer) in the refrigerator. Proper preparation will allow you to have fresh and ready to eat strawberries on hand at any time, and you’ll likely run out well before they end up expiring.
If you find that you have too many strawberries to eat before they expire, strawberries can be frozen to be enjoyed later in a smoothie or baked dish.
In order to track and monitor the freshness of your strawberries, use the Lil’ Broc app to ensure that all of your produce is eaten before it expires. The Lil’ Broc app makes it easy and convenient to track your produce in order to save money and reduce kitchen waste.
How to Wash and Store Strawberries: Final Thoughts
And that’s all there is to it! Strawberries are a delicious fruit, and by following these tips, you’ll be able to get the most out of each one. You can also apply these same principles of strawberry care to other berries such as blueberries or blackberries (although these berries won’t need to be sliced). With these tips and tricks, your strawberries will be fresh, juicy, and delicious for days on end!