The sweet, fragrant strawberries are a sensory delight. They’re also highly perishable, turning into mushy and moldy mess in a few days from when you bring them home.
However, with the right storage method, you can keep your strawberries fresh for a week - or even longer.
Read on for expert tips on how to maximize the shelf life of your precious red berries.
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How to Store Strawberries - 5 Tips to Keep in Mind
It’s no secret strawberries require careful handling, especially in hot, humid environments.
Not only are they water-rich, but they also have porous skin that easily soaks up moisture from the air. Their thin, delicate skin is also covered in naturally occurring mold spores, which only need a bit of moisture to activate.
So, before we get to the storage methods, here are a few important tips that can help you maximize the shelf life of your strawberries.
Check and cull: Remember the proverb one bad apple spoils the whole barrel? Well, a few bad strawberries are all it takes to spoil the whole box.
It’s a good idea to check the strawberries carefully before buying them. Sort them again after you bring them home, and discard the ones that look moldy or overripe.
Don’t tear off leaves and stems: Hulling strawberries before storing them in the refrigerator is a big no-no.
Removing the green top exposes their flesh to the air, causing mold and bacteria to grow quickly. Slice the leaves and stems only when you’re ready to eat the strawberries.
Keep them completely dry: When storing strawberries, the less exposure to moisture, the better. Washing them can lead to moisture oversaturation in the already water-rich berries, causing them to become moldy.
Rinse the strawberries right before consuming them. If you wash them before storage, dry them thoroughly using a salad spinner or lay them on a tray lined with a flour sack kitchen towel.
Inspect them frequently: Considering how quickly bacteria or mold spreads, it’s a good idea to check on your strawberry stock every day. Toss out the ones that look moldy or show signs of spoilage.
Give them space to breathe: To prevent one bad berry from spoiling others, don’t store the strawberries too close together. Store them in a single layer with some spacing in between to encourage airflow and prevent microbial growth.
Related Article: How to Store Apples
How to Store Strawberries in the Fridge?
Room-temperature storage can cause strawberries to go bad quickly, especially in a humid and hot environment. While whole strawberries may survive a day on the countertop, cut strawberries will only take about two hours to deteriorate.
Unless you’re planning to use them up right away, store your strawberries in the fridge. The cold and dry conditions of a fridge prevent mold spores and bacteria from spoiling the berries.
Here are five expert-recommended methods to store strawberries in the fridge and keep them as fresh as the day you bought them.
Vinegar Bath
While the jury is still out on this method, many amateur chefs claim dunking strawberries in a vinegar solution destroys the mold spores and extends their shelf life.
To try this method, add one part of white vinegar to three cups of water to create a mixture. Next, soak the strawberries in the vinegar bath for a few minutes.
Remember to rinse the strawberries thoroughly in a colander to remove the vinegar traces and smells. Once washed, lay them on a tray lined with a clean, plaid kitchen towel to dry.
Removing excess water is crucial for the success of this method. Once fully dry, place the strawberries in their original box or a glass container and store them in the refrigerator.
Original Carton
Leaving whole strawberries in their original container is hands-down the most fuss-free storage method. The cartons that strawberries arrive in are purposely designed to extend their shelf life.
They are typically made of plastic and have small openings in the lid for ventilation.
As soon as you get home, pop the container in the refrigerator and inspect it daily to remove moldy berries or ones with mushy spots.
The original carton method works best if you don’t have time for an alternative. At best, it can make your strawberries last up to four days since it requires stacking the berries on top of one another.
Airtight Container
Next up on the list is storing unwashed strawberries in an airtight container. Start by lining a container with clean, dry paper towels. Paper towels or dish towels help by soaking up the excess moisture, which is essential to keep your strawberries mold-free.
Next, place the unwashed strawberries in a single layer, as stacking them can cause bacteria to spread from one berry to another. You might need more than one container to stick to the single-layer technique.
If you have a large stock and no containers to spare, it’s okay to stack them as long as you place a paper towel between the layers to reduce contact. Now, close the lid and pop the container in the refrigerator.
Your strawberries should stay fresh for about a week in the fridge with this method. Remember, this only works for whole, dry, unwashed strawberries.
Crisper Drawer
The crisper drawer's excellent ability to control humidity levels makes it the best spot in your refrigerator to store fresh strawberries. The drawer's overall design, including the vents and control settings, provides an ideal storage environment for fruits and vegetables.
Related Article: What Is a Crisper Drawer? How to Use This Modern Refrigeration Wonder
Strawberries do best in temperatures ranging from 32 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit and a 90 to 95% humidity level.
With too low moisture, there’s the risk of them shriveling and losing flavor. Meanwhile, very high humidity levels can trigger mold and rot.
When using crisper drawer storage methods, place the strawberries in a single layer on a tray lined with paper towels or kitchen towels to keep them firm and dry.
Mason Jar
Start by sorting through your strawberries and tossing out the ones that look mushy or moldy. Next, place the berries in a glass jar, secure the metal lid, and ring tightly before putting the jar in the refrigerator.
With a mason jar, it’s tricky to avoid stacking the strawberries, so try to position them to minimize contact.
This method keeps the strawberries plump and fresh for about a week. This is mainly due to a combination of airtight conditions and unwashed, dry strawberries that do well in keeping excess moisture at bay.
Inside the sealed glass jar, there’s just the right amount of moisture to prevent the berries from shriveling.
How to Freeze Strawberries
If you’ve bought too many boxes of strawberries, consider freezing them. This way, you will be able to make them last for months instead of days. Here’s how to prepare the strawberries for freezing:
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Wash the strawberries gently and remove the leaves and stems using a small sharp knife.
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Air dry the strawberries, or pat dry them dry using highly absorbent cotton kitchen towels.
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Arrange the dry strawberries in a single layer on a paper-lined baking sheet.
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Pop the baking sheet in the freezer for a few hours until the strawberries are frozen solid.
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Transfer the frozen strawberries to a mesh produce bag and put that bag into a air tight container.
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Label the bags for identification before stashing them in the freezer for long-term storage.
By freezing strawberries, you can enjoy them well past their peak season and add them to smoothies, milkshakes, muffins, and pies.
To freeze halved or sliced strawberries, place them cut-side down on a paper-lined baking sheet. All other steps remain the same.
How to Thaw Frozen Strawberries
If you're making a smoothie or a milkshake, you don’t need to thaw the frozen strawberries before using them.
However, for other recipes, it is highly recommended that you gently defrost the berries. You can do this by transferring them to the fridge and keeping them there for eight hours or overnight.
If you’re short on time, you can get the job done by placing the airtight freezer bags with the strawberries inside in a bowl full of cold water for about an hour.
Related Article: How to Store Banana Bread - The Right Way
Final Thoughts
Strawberries are delicious and expensive, and it’s a pity to see them go to waste. However, when stored properly, strawberries can hold on to their flavor and nutritional value for seven days or more.
Remember to always store the berries by keeping them whole with their green tops intact, just like you bought them. Skip the washing, too, until you’re ready to eat them.