The Best Way to Store Strawberries According to Food Network Experts Natasha Breen / Getty Images By Amanda Neal for Food Network Kitchen Amanda Neal is a recipe developer at Food Network. Those first fresh, vibrant strawberries of the season are like little edible gems telling us that winter is over.
- Though hardier than some other berries, soft and sweet strawberries do require some special care and safe keeping to help them last.
- If you’re planning to eat your strawberries right away, storing strawberries at room temperature on your kitchen counter is the best option — they’ll lose a bit of luster and flavor in the fridge.
However, if you want to prolong their lifespan for use in baked goods and other recipes, the refrigerator will become your best bet. Here are some tips for storing strawberries in your refrigerator to keep them fresh throughout the season. When stored properly, strawberries will stay firm and fresh for about a week.
- It’s important to keep strawberries very dry and cold.
- To do this, line a plate, baking sheet or shallow glass bowl with a couple paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
- Place your unwashed strawberries on top in a single layer, then cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use, ideally within seven days.
If you notice one of the strawberries going bad or turning moldy, immediately remove it and discard. Mold spreads easily and quickly, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on your strawberries for any spoilage. You don’t want one bad berry to ruin the whole bunch! Here are a few important tips for how to store strawberries in the refrigerator: Strawberries will stay their freshest when dry and cold, and any added moisture will soften the strawberries and encourage mold growth.
So instead of washing all of your berries right when you get home from the store, wash them as you plan to eat or prepare them. Keep those little, frilly green stems on your fresh strawberries when storing in the refrigerator. Having the stems intact will protect the interior of your berries and prolong their shelf life.
Your strawberries will stay best when not crushed by layers of berries on top of them. If you’re planning to keep your strawberries for a longer period of time, your best bet is to freeze them. Remove the stems, then quarter or thinly slice the berries.
- Place the strawberries on a parchment paper-lined plate or baking sheet, then freeze until solid, at least 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a resealable freezer bag, and store for up to 3 months.
- This method will allow you to easily thaw and snack on your in-season strawberries, or simply throw frozen berries into smoothies and frozen beverages.
Kate Mathis, © 2016, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved Baked with a golden biscuit topping, this dessert makes the most of sweet strawberries. To ensure the filling sets correctly, let the cobbler cool completely before serving. Kate Mathis, © 2016, Television Food Network, G.P.
- All Rights Reserved This light and springy dessert satisfies the cheesecake lover, but is a bit easier to make.
- It’s a great way to use up your strawberries.
- Sweet strawberry and tart rhubarb are a match made in heaven.
- Serve this cake with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Presenting the ultimate summer dessert.
We promise you’ll want to be saving this recipe. This buckle screams summer, thanks to the generous helping of fresh blueberries, blackberries and strawberries. We boosted the flavors by adding a good amount of lemon zest to the tender cake and a pinch of nutmeg and ginger to the sweet crumb topping.
Contents
Can you eat 3 day old strawberries?
How Long Are Strawberries Good For? – With proper storage, fresh strawberries can stay fresh for up to a week. But ideally, you should eat fresh strawberries within a day or two of buying them. If you need to store them for longer, you can keep them in the refrigerator or freeze them to extend their shelf life.
Countertop | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
Whole Strawberries With Stem | 2-3 Days | 5 – 7 Days | 8 – 12 Months |
Cut Strawberries | 2 Hours | 3 – 4 Days | 8 – 12 Months |
Is it OK to eat soft strawberries?
Eat or toss: If they aren’t showing signs of mold or rot, they should still be OK. However, if the strawberry is very soft and degraded, it won’t taste good anymore.
Can I eat 3 day old fruit?
Fruits and vegetables – All raw fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed in clean water before consumption — and the sooner you can eat these, the better. Thoroughly washed and cut fresh fruit will generally keep for about 3–5 days before it starts to lose its freshness.
- When cooked, leftover vegetables stored in an airtight container will usually keep up to 3–7 days in the refrigerator.
- Cooked canned vegetables like beans or other legumes generally last 7–10 days with proper storage ( 2 ).
- Fruits and vegetables with higher water contents, such as tomatoes, cucumber, and strawberries, lose their freshness quicker than those with a lower water content like kale, potatoes, and bananas.
This may speed or slow the clock regarding how long you may want to store the food before eating it.
Can you eat fruit 3 days out of date?
Use-by dates are about safety – A use-by date on food is about safety. This is the most important date to remember. Never eat food after the use-by date, even if it looks and smells ok, as it could make you very ill. You can eat food until midnight on the use-by date shown on a product, but not after, unless the food has been cooked or frozen.
- You will see use-by dates on food that goes off quickly, such as meat products or ready-to-eat salads.
- For the use-by date to be a valid guide, you must carefully follow the food’s storage instructions.
- For example, if the instructions on the packaging tell you to refrigerate after opening, you should keep the food in a fridge at 5°C or below.
Find out more about chilling your food correctly, You can cook food until midnight of the use-by date listed on the product, and then cool and keep it in the fridge. This is because cooking kills any pathogens in the food and gives you a little more time to use it up.
How do you wash strawberries to last longer?
Method 2: Clean Strawberries with a Vinegar Soak – If you’re worried about bacteria and mold or are hoping to make your berries last a little longer, you can soak them in a mild white vinegar solution. The benefit, according to the Detroit Free Press, is that the acid in the vinegar will help kill any bacteria and mold spores that might be on the berries, though you’ll want to rinse them again in water to cut down on giving your fruit a vinegary taste.
- To make this solution, combine 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water in a large container or bowl.
- Place the strawberries in the vinegar-water and let them soak for about five minutes.
- Then rinse them thoroughly in a colander and place on a towel to dry.
- Once the berries are thoroughly dried, you can store them berries in the fridge, in a container that allows air to circulate, for up to two weeks.
Learn more: 16 Fun Facts All Strawberry Lovers Should Know
How long can strawberries last in the fridge?
How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge – The fresh whole opened and unopened Strawberries last up to 1-2 days in the counter, 5-7 days in the refrigerator, and 6-8 months in the freezer. The fresh-cut Strawberries last up to 1 day in the counter, 1-3 days in the refrigerator, and 3-4 months in the freezer. Does it also depend on purchasing the Strawbery, how is the condition, is it old or new? Yeah, it depends, and you need to know about these two words, “New” and “Old.” Maybe in the Strawbery store, they tell you that it’s fresh but don’t trust anyone.