It’s time to stock up on fresh berries! Maximize their shelf life and reduce waste by washing and storing them correctly! Here’s how.
WASHING
To wash berries, soak them in a vinegar bath for 5 minutes, using up to 1-part white vinegar to 4 parts water (we promise you won’t taste it!). This vinegar rinse helps kill mold spores, drastically imporving shelf life. Drain and do a final rinse with just water for another minute to remove any vinegar aftertaste. Dry berries thoroughly on a towel or paper towel before storing.
For stronger berries, like strawberries and blueberries, you can wash and store right away. Delicate berries, like raspberries and blackberries, do best when washed right before eating.
STORAGE
Once your berries are washed and dried, place a paper towel on the bottom of your container to help remove any extra moisture as the berries sit in the fridge. If the paper towel becomes damp, replace it so no moisture is present.
Since berries have thin, porous skin, they easily absorb odors and ethylene gas from other fruits. Ehylene gas can cause fruits and vegetables to ripen faster, so keep berries away from ethylene gas producers like apples, bananas, apricots and pears.
REDUCE WASTE
When fresh berries have almost passed their prime, they still have some life left before the trash. Try flash freezing berries by freezing on a sheet pan with parchment paper or wax paper before adding them to a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container. Flash freezing berries in a single layer helps them freeze as individual berries instead of a large clump that’s hard to separate later.
Looking for a tasty way to use those freshly washed berries? Give these Berry Hand Pies a try—they’re absolutely delicious.
