Method 6: Mason Jar – Nancy Mock for Taste of Home About This Method: Fresh, whole strawberries are sealed inside glass mason jars with metal lids and bands, then refrigerated. How To Do It: Check through your strawberries to remove any that have mushy spots or mold. Place your unwashed strawberries in a glass mason jar, and stack them loosely so that they aren’t squishing each other.
- Tightly fasten the metal lid and band on the jar, then put it in the fridge.
- Did It Work? Yes! This is our favorite of the six methods.
- If you don’t see any difference between the before and after photos of this method, it’s not a trick.
- After seven days the strawberries looked as fresh as they did on day one, with plump, firm fruit and fresh leaves.
It was so satisfying to find the strawberries looked and tasted this perfect after a week in the fridge. The Verdict: We love it! No air can get into the sealed mason jars, and this seems to hold off the decay of the strawberries. There’s just enough natural moisture in the fruit that the berries stay firm and the leaves stay vibrant.
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How do you make strawberries last longer in a mason jar?
How to Store Strawberries in the Fridge – Many of the berry storage guides you’ll find online share advice about how to clean and store strawberries and how to store cut strawberries. But we’ll cut to the chase: That’s not your best strategy if you’re seeking ways to keep your berries beautiful as long as possible.
We’ve found that it’s best to store the strawberries, unwashed and whole, until you are ready to use them,” advises Lynn Blanchard, Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen director, “It’s important to not wash berries before storing. They tend to absorb water, and that shortens their shelf life.” The berry company Driscoll’s echoes this sentiment, and recommends that you keep your berries as dry as possible as during refrigerator storage.
Either store in the container you purchased the berries, or transfer dry berries to a shallow storage with a paper towel. Scatter the dry berries on top in a single layer. Cover with a lid and place on a shelf inside your refrigerator, Blanchard suggests.
- Test Kitchen Tip: To potentially tack on a couple more days to the lifespan of your fresh berries, employ Mason jars if you own them, Blanchard says.
- The airtight nature of the jar seems to keep the strawberries fresher for slightly longer.
- Here’s how to store strawberries in Mason jars: Pat the berries dry, if any moisture remains, then gently drop them into a Mason jar.
Add the lid and twist to seal tightly. Place on a shelf inside your refrigerator. “Depending on the freshness of strawberries when purchased—which is the biggest factor in how long your berries stay fresh—they’re typically best within 3 days when stored in the refrigerator in a shallow container.
But I have kept them for up to one week in a glass jar,” Blanchard confirms. To maximize flavor, take your strawberry container out of the fridge an hour or two before you plan to eat them; strawberries tend to taste best at or near room temp, Driscoll’s fruit experts add. Just before you plan to eat or use the fruit in a strawberry recipe, rinse the berries under cool water, then use a knife to carefully remove the leaves and stems.
Slice as desired and enjoy. Related: 26 Sweet Strawberry Dessert Recipes Perfect for Summer
Do you wash strawberries before putting them in a mason jar?
Strawberry Storing Tips: –
Do not remove the stem, and do not wash the strawberries before storing them. Use a clean glass jar that’s been washed and dried thoroughly. It needs to have a tight-fitting lid. I like using large mason jars. Large jars like pickle jars are perfect for larger quantities of strawberries, too. Discard any spoiled or bruised fruit. Do not put the spoiled ones in the jar with the other strawberries. Place the jar in the coldest part of your refrigerator. The strawberries will not get moldy using this method. They will, however, start to ferment. They may seem fine, but they aren’t edible if you leave them too long in the refrigerator.
***NOTE: The results will vary based on the ripeness of the fruit when placed into the jar, refrigerator temperature, etc. This post first appeared on FFF in May 2016. I have since updated the pictures and added a video.
Does fruit go bad in mason jars?
Do You Wash Fruit Before Storing in Mason Jars? – When re-packing the fruit, it’s essential to wash it off with a mixture of fresh water and distilled vinegar. Vinegar will help to rid the fruit of germs and bacteria that cause it to go rotten. If the fruit isn’t washed before storing it in a mason jar, the bacteria will spread, and the fruit won’t last very long.
- To avoid having fresh fruit go bad inside a mason jar, it’s essential to wash and dry it properly before storage.
- If the mason jars are filled with condensation, remove the fruit and wipe it out to keep the fruit fresh.
- One of the most important tips when storing fresh fruit in a container is to let it dry completely before storing it.
If the produce is still moist in a mason jar, it will decay much quicker. Fruit does best in containers with low humidity, so it’s essential to ensure that the fruit is dry and clean before putting it in the fridge.
How do you keep fruit fresh longer in mason jars?
Do You Wash Fruit Before Storing in Mason Jars? – When re-packing the fruit, it’s essential to wash it off with a mixture of fresh water and distilled vinegar. Vinegar will help to rid the fruit of germs and bacteria that cause it to go rotten. If the fruit isn’t washed before storing it in a mason jar, the bacteria will spread, and the fruit won’t last very long.
- To avoid having fresh fruit go bad inside a mason jar, it’s essential to wash and dry it properly before storage.
- If the mason jars are filled with condensation, remove the fruit and wipe it out to keep the fruit fresh.
- One of the most important tips when storing fresh fruit in a container is to let it dry completely before storing it.
If the produce is still moist in a mason jar, it will decay much quicker. Fruit does best in containers with low humidity, so it’s essential to ensure that the fruit is dry and clean before putting it in the fridge.
How do you keep berries fresh longer in jars?
Hey there! I wanted to pop in and share a quick little tip with all of you that I’ve mentioned before in this post but I thought it was worth sharing again. Don’t you just hate how fast berries go bad? It doesn’t matter if I wash them first or just leave them unwashed in the containers they come in, they always start to go bad in just a couple of days. I place all types of berries in mason jars unwashed as soon as I come home from the grocery store. Seal it tightly with the lid and stick the jar in the refrigerator. Then we just wash them as we need them. Berries will last well over a week. And I’ve had some that have lasted up to 2 weeks.
Amazing, right! I know it’s the little things in life. Ha ha! This post contains some affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here, I bought a case of wide mouth 32 oz. mason jars to store our strawberries in at Target.
And use smaller jars for blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. You can find the larger jars here or here, These wide mouth large jars are also great for storing veggies. I often wash and cut up celery, carrots, peppers and cucumbers to have on hand for quick snacks. 
What ways do you use mason jars in your kitchen? We’d love to hear some other ideas from you! ♥ AnnMarie