Summer is officially rolling in. School is wrapping up, the beach is beckoning, and it’s time to swap sweaters for sandals and stews for smoothies. A change of season means new produce is in session. For summer that means cucumbers, cherries, tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, and of course, berries. Strawberries are a favorite for many. They seem to have a monopoly on dessert, from strawberry shortcake, strawberry pie, strawberry sorbet, and even chocolate-covered strawberries. Still, the berry on its own is a treat unto itself. The sweet, summery flavor is perfectly matched with tartness all in one soft but crunchy bite. Therefore, it’s a great tragedy to find fresh strawberries go bad before they get enjoyed and eaten. Storing them properly is key to their longevity. Fortunately, there is the perfect method to do just that.
How to Store Strawberries to Last Longer
One great method is to store the strawberries in mason jars.
One mom on TikTok, Steph Gigliotti, said she tried this method for a couple of months to great results. “Not sure if you knew this but I found this tip a couple of months ago so I’ve been testing it out,” she said. “But it works so well! If you put your strawberries in a glass jar, they stay fresh for two to three weeks!”
She said she didn’t wash the strawberries before she stored them. But she added that this method can work on many other fruits. One follower explained that the mason jar is a good airtight container. The lack of flowing oxygen helps keep the berries fresh longer. Another person added that adding paper towels around the fruit would also help remove moisture. [1]
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In fact, even if you don’t use a mason jar, paper towels are a great way to keep strawberries fresh. You can line a regular container with a lid and add the unwashed strawberries. The paper towels will absorb some of the excess liquid from the berries which causes them to spoil faster. However, this method will not work as well on pre-washed strawberries. The extra moisture from washing will make them spoil faster. The key to long-lasting strawberries is to store them as dry as possible.
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Alternatively, if you don’t have a container, or not one big enough, you can use the crisper drawer in your fridge. Line the drawer with paper towels, place the berries inside, open the vents, and ensure the humidity stays low. Make sure the berries are spaced away from each other, not piled up.
This is bad news for habitual meal preppers. Washing and hulling the strawberries ahead of time will make them spoil quickly. Unfortunately, the best way to ensure freshness is to prepare them as close to eating as possible. If you prep on Sunday for the week, it’s unlikely the berries will stay fresh as each day passes.
Another Viral Method That Works
Another method circulating the internet involves dunking strawberries in a water bath of one part white vinegar and three parts water. Drain the berries and try them as well as possible. You can even line a salad spinner with paper towels and dry them that way. After that, place the strawberries into a container lined with paper towels, loosely place the lid on top, and put it into the refrigerator.
Of course, this method is more labor-intensive than popping the berries into a mason jar, but for a large number of strawberries, it may be worth it. Mason jars can’t hold very much at once and depending on how much you have, there may not be enough space to store all of them. Therefore, it’s worth it to put in a little extra effort to ensure all of the strawberries stay as fresh as possible. [2]
But all in all, moisture is the greatest enemy of fresh strawberries, so whichever method you choose, make sure they are as dry as possible before storing them. If you have no time for any of this, you can store the strawberries in their original container, just make sure to remove any off-looking ones first. If you plan to use them in the next three to five days, this method should garner decent results. But if you’re trying to store them for longer, it’s worthwhile to put in the time for better storage. [3]
And when all else fails, freeze them. Thawed or partially frozen strawberries are delicious in milkshakes, smoothies, sauces, and baked goods like muffins and cobblers.
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Sources:
- “You’ve been storing your strawberries all wrong – here’s how to keep them looking fresh and juicy for longer.” The Sun. S.M. Caraballo.
- “We Tried 7 Methods for Storing Berries and the Winner Outlasted Them All.” The Kitchn. Jesse Szewczyk.
- “We Tested 6 Ways to Store Strawberries to Find the Best Method.” Taste of Home. Nancy Mook.
