Strawberry Care – Picking, Storing, Freezing & Preparing The best strawberries are the ones you pick yourself or buy from your local strawberry farm. These berries will be the freshest you can get, with little or no handling and travel. Nothing beats the flavor and fragrance of fresh-picked strawberries! Picking Pick by pinching the stem of the berry between your thumb and forefinger.
This will prevent damage to both the fruit and the strawberry plant. Leaving the caps on helps your strawberries last longer. When selecting berries look for the ones that are plump, firm, and well colored. These are the best for all your needs–freezing, preserving, or eating just the way they are. Storing Strawberries are best when prepared and eaten in the same day, but if you must keep them longer, store them in your refrigerator.
Arrange the berries in a shallow container, separating out any damaged berries. Cover them loosely, and keep at 35 degrees for best results. Do not remove the caps or wash the berries until you are ready to use them. When caps are removed before use, the berries lose some of their moisture.
Washing early tends to bruise them and the berries lose their freshness. Preparing When preparing (for whatever use), place the berries in a strainer and rinse with cool water. To remove the caps, give the caps a gentle twist or use the point of a sharp knife, trying not to remove any of the berry. The tip of an ordinary vegetable peeler makes a good tool for capping berries.
Freezing Whole berries: Place one layer of clean, capped berries on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm. Remove from cookie sheet, package in freezer bags, and seal. Packing with sugar: Slice berries in halves or thirds. Mix with sugar (six cups sliced fruit to one cup sugar).
Allow to stand until sugar dissolves (about 10-15 minutes). Pack the fruit and juice into freezer bags or containers. Leave 1/4-inch head space for pint containers. Packing without sugar: Strawberries may also be packed whole or sliced without sugar or with minimal sugar, but the color and texture of the thawed fruit won’t be as good.
Contents
ONE SIMPLE STEP to Store Your Strawberries in the Fridge for WEEKS
Good for kids: Let kids cap and pack their choice of berries into pint yogurt containers, put their names on them, and freeze. For a quick, nutritious snack, thaw container slightly in the microwave and let kids eat their partially frozen berries straight from the container.
How long can fresh picked strawberries sit on the counter?
Strawberries should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cutting them. If they are left out for more than 2 hours, throw them away.
Where should fresh strawberries be stored?
Keep Them Cool – Finally, berries belong in the fridge. Once purchased from a farmer’s market, they can last about a day or two on the counter, but unless you plan on eating them within that time, the refrigerator is where they need to go.
How long can you store strawberries at room temperature?
Shelf Life Tips –
How long do strawberries last? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions and how ripe the berries were when purchased or picked – for maximum shelf life, keep strawberries refrigerated at all times. How long do strawberries last at room temperature? Strawberries should only be left out at room temperature if being consumed within one or two days, as strawberries are highly perishable and do not ripen after being picked. Refrigerate strawberries in their closed plastic clamshell container (if purchased in one) or place berries loosely in a shallow container and cover with plastic wrap. Discard any bruised or moldy strawberries before refrigerating. To extend the shelf life of strawberries, do not wash the berries until ready to eat or use. How long do strawberries last in the refrigerator? Properly stored, strawberries will usually keep for about 3 to 7 days in the fridge. Can you freeze whole strawberries? Yes, to freeze: (1) Rinse berries and blot dry (2) Slice stems off at top of berry (3) Place strawberries, cut side down, on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper (4) Place uncovered cookie sheet in the freezer for several hours, until frozen (5)Transfer frozen strawberries to covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. How long do whole strawberries last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for about 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only – strawberries that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely. How to tell if strawberries are bad or spoiled? Strawberries that are spoiling will typically become soft and mushy and their color will deteriorate; discard strawberries if mold appears or if the strawberries have an off smell or appearance.
About Our Authors Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
Does fruit last longer in the fridge or on the counter?
Storing fruit in the fridge –
Most fresh fruit, including apples, berries and grapes, will last longer if kept in their original packaging and stored in the crisper of your fridge. Berries can last in the fridge for about a week. It’s a good idea to eat as soon as possible so they don’t spoil. Plastic bags with tiny vents (openings) help keep fruit fresh longer by releasing moisture. They are great for grapes, blueberries, cherries or strawberries.
Did you know? Apples cause other fruit and vegetables to ripen faster. Keep them in a separate place in the fridge, if possible.
How do you keep berries fresh longer in the fridge?
Store berries in paper towel-lined sealable container, with layers of paper towels between each layer of berries. Keep the lid slightly open to allow excess moisture to escape. Place in the refrigerator to store.