Strawberries are one of the tastiest fruits popping up at markets as summer marches on. Eating a luscious berry is something that many people look forward to during the summer season. However, there’s one thing that strawberry lovers worry about when buying these berries: strawberry storage. Since strawberries are only available for a short period of time in one full year, learning how to store them is very essential so you could enjoy your berries longer.
Foremost, choose berries carefully. Look for plump, firm berries with a deep red color. Avoid bruised berries and ones that have not completely ripened. Keep in mind that berries, unlike other fruits, do not continue to ripen once harvested. Pick medium sized berries over large ones. Medium berries are typically sweeter than large berries. You may also smell the berries to determine its fragrance. Fragrant berries are the sweetest. Also, make sure that strawberry caps are firmly attached to the berry and should have a fresh green color.
When you bring home the berries from the local market, make sure to wash them thoroughly and carefully. Washing berries can be a bit tricky though. Give strawberries a quick rinse with your paper towels ready to dry them off very quick. Bear in mind that moisture is the enemy when storing strawberries.
If you are eating the berries within the day of purchase and it is not too terribly hot in the kitchen, you can leave them at room temperature. Otherwise, you’re better off keeping them cool in your refrigerator. Make sure that you do not remove the caps off the berry. Colanders are recommended storage of berries because they help in the circulation of cool air within the berries. They should last for at least three days or longer. If you wish to store your berries for several months, storing them on your freezer is far better than keeping them refrigerated or trying to keep them all fresh and unblemished. To freeze berries without sugar, wash and drain them properly. Avoid soaking them in water. Place them on a cookie sheet and freeze them on for 24 hours. After which, you need to remove the berries and place them in freezer containers or freezer bags. If you are storing and freezing the berries with added sugar, pack them into freezer containers while leaving a little headspace between them. Adding a teaspoon on each container will add sweetness to the berries and produce syrup once thawed. A frozen berry will retain most of its flavor as well as its nutritional value. They are perfect for whirling in smoothies, baking up in pies, cakes and other treats. Proper storage is very crucial to keep strawberries fresh as long as possible. Also, for long term storage, make sure to label the container with the date of storage. Use a permanent marker to write the date you froze the berries. When serving, quickly rinse them under a gentle spray of water then pat dry with a soft paper towel.