When to Pick Strawberries – You’ll know when strawberries are ripe to pick when they’re uniformly red and firm. Morgan says, “It’s best to look for bright red strawberries with their green cap (botanically called a calyx) still in place. The fruit should have a noticeable strawberry scent, a medium firmness, and no mold.
Contents
What is the best time for strawberry picking?
When Is Strawberry Season? – For most of the country, June is prime time for strawberries. You might also see them in the fall at some farmers’ markets, thanks to ever-bearing varieties that can produce until nearly the first frost. If you do, consider yourself lucky.
- They’re so delicate.
- It’s tricky because if it gets too hot in the summer, the plants just give up,” says Peter Klein, whose Seedling Orchard in South Haven, Michigan supplies strawberries and other fruits to many Chicago chefs.
- Strawberries like warm days and cool nights, which is why they thrive in California.
There, the year-round growing cycle starts in the south, wends its way up through the Central Coast, into the Monterey Bay area and back again. But the sweet spot is between April and July. That’s when production in all the growing areas overlaps, says Carolyn O’Donnell, a commission spokeswoman.
Do strawberries ripen more after being picked?
Strawberries – Strawberries don’t ripen once they’re picked, so if they don’t look ripe, they never will be. How can you tell which strawberries are the freshest? Look for a bright red colour, a natural shine, and fresh-looking green tops. Avoid berries with white tops or tips.
- Eep berries refrigerated, although they will taste sweeter if you let them come to room temperature before eating.
- Select strawberries that are rich and uniformly red.
- Avoid mushy berries that exhibit signs of mould.
- You can find fresh strawberries in the grocery store any time of the year, but they’re best during spring and summer, fresh off the farm.
Check your local farmers market or find locations to pick your own berries for the sweetest and ripest fruit. If possible, choose organic strawberries to avoid pesticides commonly used in conventional growing. You can also purchase frozen organic strawberries for extra sweetness and a boost of nutrition at any time of the year.
Is it OK to eat ripe strawberries?
Freeze Them for Later – If you don’t have time to use up your overripe strawberries right away, you can freeze them for later. Simply wash and hull them, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze them until they are solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container.
They will keep for up to six months in the freezer. Overall, overripe strawberries are safe to eat as long as they don’t have any mould or signs of spoilage. If your strawberries are soft but still good, you can revive them by soaking them in cold water for 20 minutes. This will help remove any toxins or bacteria that may be present.
And if you store your berries in the fridge, they will last longer than if you leave them at room temperature.
Should you eat unwashed strawberries?
Unwashed fresh berries (or any fresh produce) can have dirt, bacteria, or even tiny insects living on or in them, not to mention pesticide residue on the fruit’s skin, which can lead to foodborne illness.