Photo by James Ransom
Berries: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Like many coveted objects, berries are both precious and frustrating, expensive and fragile. What is more maddening than splurging on vivid, juicy berries at the market only to find that your fruity jewels have turned to mush—or worse, have been overtaken by dreaded mold—when you return to them for a mid-week treat?
Don't despair just yet: This berry horror story does not have to be your destiny. The culprits behind berry mold are the evil, microscopic mold spores waiting to make a home of the friendly, moist skin of your gorgeous berries. Fortunately, there is a simple way to kill off the mold spores and bacteria that find your berries as delicious as you do.
It might seem counterintuitive to wash your berries before you're ready to eat them. One of the cardinal rules of keeping berries mold-free is to leave them unwashed until the moment before consumption. But, by washing your berries in a solution of vinegar and water, you can extend their shelf-life by days (sometimes even weeks!).
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How to Store Fresh Berries
Step 1: In a large bowl, make a diluted vinegar bath—1 cup vinegar, 3 cups water—and give your berries a dunk. The vinegar will eliminate any pesky mold and bacteria.
Step 2: Next, drain your berries in a colander and rinse them under cool running water. This guarantees that you won't be able to taste any lingering traces of vinegar later on.
Step 3: Now that you've washed your berries, it's time to dry them as thoroughly as possible. Do not be fooled: Moisture is still the enemy. The same salad spinner you use to dry off greens can be used to wick the water from your berries. Line it with about three layers of paper towels in order to create a pillow for your berries, then spin your berries for about 15 seconds, or until they are completely dry.
Step 4: Instead of putting the berries back into the container they came in, where they will crowd each other, upgrade their digs. Place them in a sealable container lined with paper towels and leave the lid partially open to avoid trapping moisture.
No Vinegar? No Problem
But what if you return from the store with pints of berries only to realize there's no vinegar in the pantry? A quick bath in hot water will also work to destroy bacteria and mold spores. Dunk your berries in water between 120°F and 140°F for approximately 30 seconds. Dry and store them in the same way you would after a vinegar wash.
A Few of Our Favorite Berry Recipes
Once you've learned how to extend the lifespan of your berries, the real question becomes: What will you do with them? Here are a few ideas...
1. Fruit Tart
A luscious pastry cream and rich, buttery shell make the perfect complement to fresh summer berries (pick your favorites!) in this fruit tart from cookbook author, photographer, and food writer Jerrelle Guy.
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2. Strawberry Lime Crostata
In this laidback crostata, "lime stands in for the usual rhubarb to brighten the strawberries." The result: lively bursts of puckery-sweet strawberries and flaky crust.
3. Berry Summer Pudding
Never made summer pudding? "Now's the time," says our co-founder Merrill Stubbs. You'll need just four super-simple ingredients (hello, mixed berries, sugar, white sandwich bread, and heavy cream). Once you've got those handy, all you need to do is assemble the layers and let them hang out in the fridge till you're ready to dig in.
4. Nigel Slater’s Raspberry Ripple Sandwich
This swirly sandwich is all about the whipped cream and berries—raspberries, that is. It's "a joyously messy experience and nostalgic even if you didn’t grow up in England eating raspberry ripple ice cream."
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5. Rose Levy Beranbaum's Fresh Blueberry Pie
There are few better ways to let peak-summer blueberries shine than in this Genius pie that keeps the fruit's texture and integrity totally intact.
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Do you have any tricks for keeping your berries fresh? Let us know in the comments!
Photos by James Ransom. This article was originally published in June 2015, but we're sharing it again for berry season 2020.
Written by: Sarah Jampel
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139 Comments
george H.
December 2, 2022
Well I can't see any way to add an image to a comment. Had a picture of a half flat of strawberries that I bought from my previously mentioned "Strawberry lady". $17 for six baskets. Had two of the baskets in the picture wrapped like I have described before. Anyone who wants to see them can email me at [email protected] .
Ann S.
August 24, 2022
First time trying this method and I'm so impressed. I worked in small-ish batches using only half the vinegar and water as I didn't want to be too wasteful of vinegar. 8 days on, what's left of my very ripe strawberries from the farmers' market are still good, no browning or mold, and in fact they look good enough (even the frilly green bit - the calyx? something else I've just learned) to use as a dessert garnish. They're a deeper red than when first bought but that's not a problem. Next time I'll try lining the salad spinner with a folded soft tea towel. Even when serving berries the same day they're bought, I'll remember the salad spinner as a great way to dry them after washing. Not sure if this method will work for 'hollow' berries like raspberries as I don't see how you could get the inside dry enough for storage.
Ann S.
August 24, 2022
I meant to add, it's also really convenient to be able to have washed strawberries ready to eat in the fridge (or to take to a potluck, weekend away, etc. etc.) - normally I'd wait until the last moment to wash them. And blueberries treated with the same method have held up really well - again, no spoilage at all, 8 days on.
Ann S.
December 11, 2022
Just did yet another batch of berries with this method. A soft clean non-linty tea towel instead of paper towels works very well and feels less wasteful. Just choose one that won't stain from any berry juices. I've also lined the salad spinner with a towel for more delicate salad greens and it worked well. I tried using the method to dry a whole head of cauliflower and that didn't really work, but this would be great for drying crudite for a party.
David E.
June 22, 2022
Btw, I researched the "FreshPaper" by Fenugreen that was mentioned below. Alleges to extend the life of fruits and vegetables in the fridge by 2-4x. Definitely works by all accounts. It has been reviewed and "seen on TV" everywhere.
The problem is that it is basically 8 sheets for $10 and 1 sheet in 1 drawer lasts only 3 weeks. I were using them, I would put 1/2 sheet each in the fruit and veggie drawers and see how that works. Probably would not be effective for the whole 3 weeks, but hopefully would be more effective both cost and food-wise.
Anyway, their website shows an excellent, much more cost-effective option of 480 sheets for $200. But unless you are going in on it with others or able to sell to others, that is not really a viable option. At this point, it does not really matter though since the option has been "sold out" for months, if not much longer.
When you go to the site (www.freshglow.co), a popup offers you 25% off your first purchase, which is decent.
If you regularly waste more than $1.25 per fruit or veggie drawer every 3 weeks, it may well be worth it. We are still considering it, but have not done it yet.
Thanks to those who suggested this and other "keep fresh" options. Would love to hear more personal experiences on these options.
The problem is that it is basically 8 sheets for $10 and 1 sheet in 1 drawer lasts only 3 weeks. I were using them, I would put 1/2 sheet each in the fruit and veggie drawers and see how that works. Probably would not be effective for the whole 3 weeks, but hopefully would be more effective both cost and food-wise.
Anyway, their website shows an excellent, much more cost-effective option of 480 sheets for $200. But unless you are going in on it with others or able to sell to others, that is not really a viable option. At this point, it does not really matter though since the option has been "sold out" for months, if not much longer.
When you go to the site (www.freshglow.co), a popup offers you 25% off your first purchase, which is decent.
If you regularly waste more than $1.25 per fruit or veggie drawer every 3 weeks, it may well be worth it. We are still considering it, but have not done it yet.
Thanks to those who suggested this and other "keep fresh" options. Would love to hear more personal experiences on these options.
David E.
June 22, 2022
DO THE HOT BATH!
Glad I read these comments 6 weeks ago. What a difference a quick hot water bath makes, especially with a little vinegar (1:10 ratio). 30 seconds at 125F for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, and 140F for blueberries. I have done it 3 times and it is wholly amazing how much longer berries last. 1-2 weeks at least.
I detach only the green leafs from the strawberries before doing the rinse.
Most recently, I had bought some strawberries and blueberries at Costco. I did not hot wash them right away since I was making smoothies the next day. So I forget to do the hot wash of the remaining fruit until about 5 days later, but I make the mistake of getting sidetracked for a minute while doing the strawberries and left them in for 1.5 minutes at an initial temp of at least 170F. I was in a hurry and there were lots of strawberries so I didn’t wait for the water to cool more. The skin looked like it was just going to start to shed when I finally got them out.
A few days after that, I got sick for a week due to stomach issues and could not eat high acidic foods. So the day before yesterday I am okay enough to have smoothies again. As I retrieve the fruit, I am thinking I will be throwing it out at this point, especially the strawberries, rinse or no rinse.
Nope! Strawberries and blueberries were about 85% good and I used all the one’s that were still good, but not the best, in my smoothy. Today, I am using the rest of them for smoothies and, again, about 80% of them are good. Amazing!
I am over 60 and I am just now learning about this? WTH!
I am in Mesa (Phoenix), AZ which means our fruits, especially berries, are mostly trucked in from California.
Glad I read these comments 6 weeks ago. What a difference a quick hot water bath makes, especially with a little vinegar (1:10 ratio). 30 seconds at 125F for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, and 140F for blueberries. I have done it 3 times and it is wholly amazing how much longer berries last. 1-2 weeks at least.
I detach only the green leafs from the strawberries before doing the rinse.
Most recently, I had bought some strawberries and blueberries at Costco. I did not hot wash them right away since I was making smoothies the next day. So I forget to do the hot wash of the remaining fruit until about 5 days later, but I make the mistake of getting sidetracked for a minute while doing the strawberries and left them in for 1.5 minutes at an initial temp of at least 170F. I was in a hurry and there were lots of strawberries so I didn’t wait for the water to cool more. The skin looked like it was just going to start to shed when I finally got them out.
A few days after that, I got sick for a week due to stomach issues and could not eat high acidic foods. So the day before yesterday I am okay enough to have smoothies again. As I retrieve the fruit, I am thinking I will be throwing it out at this point, especially the strawberries, rinse or no rinse.
Nope! Strawberries and blueberries were about 85% good and I used all the one’s that were still good, but not the best, in my smoothy. Today, I am using the rest of them for smoothies and, again, about 80% of them are good. Amazing!
I am over 60 and I am just now learning about this? WTH!
I am in Mesa (Phoenix), AZ which means our fruits, especially berries, are mostly trucked in from California.
george H.
May 12, 2022
I buy strawberries from a grower in Fairfield California. That's about 30 minutes from where I live. Two weeks ago I bought three baskets to use in morning smoothies. Wrapped each basket in paper towels, put each in it's own Zip Lock Quart Freezer bag and put them in the refrigerator. 13 days later they're pretty much gone but also pretty much as when bought. If you find a soft spot when you're using them cut it out if it bothers you. I don't hull them first but at the peak of the season I freeze bags for use in winter smoothies. Those I hull first. If you can find a nearby grower, it's worth the trip to buy them. They let them vine ripen. The junk you find in a grocery store are picked too early. They might even look good but they don't taste like much.
David E.
May 9, 2022
Please forgive my ignorance, but I am confused. If containers are VENTED TO ALLOW MOISTURE TO ESCAPE, then do they not also allow moisture from other produce or other products to come in?
Especially since some produce needs moisture - yes?
Don
Especially since some produce needs moisture - yes?
Don
Ann S.
August 23, 2022
humid air in the fridge is OK - it's the actual moisture from condensation (which will form in a sealed container) that you need to avoid
Remy1234
June 7, 2021
Should you hull strawberries before or after completing this process? I'm excited to try this since I've already had to trash 2 containers this year due to my negligence!
cybernurse
June 24, 2021
I've been using this method for a long time. With a very slight modification, which I'll pass along. It works! (BTW: Don't hull the strawberries, but DO pull off the stems.) I wash the berries in cool water in my salad spinner. I let them soak and splash around for a little, until the debris is washed off. I give them a spin, and while still damp from their bath, I SPRAY them with full-strength vinegar I keep in a small spray bottle I keep under the sink. (It "self-dilutes" due to the residual drops of water 💦 that's still on the surface.) After ~ 2 minutes, I rinse the vinegar off w cold water, and then refrigerate. Ditto process with blueberries. Sometimes they bathe together. I use a small sized salad spinner, so I store them in it, lined with a clean dry washcloth to minimize any moisture. (Eventually you'll find some mold or mushy fruit - if you don't consume them fast enough. The blueberries last longer.) The vinegar definitely removes the spores you can't see, and extends their life. Have fun!
Sue S.
November 18, 2018
Using the vinegar method on strawberries and blackberries for the first time. Do I leave the lids on the bowls slightly open the entire time they are in the refrigerator?
suzan C.
November 18, 2018
when i use vinegar on my strawberries i nestle them in a paper towel and put them back in their box and sometimes leave the top ajar but usually i just close it. if i were using plastic or glass storage i would definitely leave the top ajar
cybernurse
June 24, 2021
Moisture is the enemy for berries. I find the method above (lining the container with a clean, absorbable cloth) works well. I leave my salad spinner top on, as the spout still allows air to circulate, which you need. You could leave it open to the air, and it would still work fine.
Really R.
September 15, 2018
Can you use the white vinegar method on grapes?
Rosa L.
September 24, 2018
Good idea. I've only used it on fresh berries but there is no reason it wouldn't work on grapes. The goal is to kill any mold/mildew and it works like a charm on berries.
cybernurse
June 24, 2021
Yup for grapes 🍇. You'll be happy to have found another use for vinegar! 🍒 work well too.
Karen
July 27, 2017
I always do this to my strawberries but I store them in a glass bowl. They last 1 to 2 weeks. I love this method.
Robert K.
July 11, 2017
I have found a new product that keeps my berries fresh. It is a vented plastic storage box that comes in 3 sizes. It is Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver. It is vented to allow moisture to escape. So far its been working and keeping my berries free from mold and firm for a week or so.
george H.
June 30, 2017
I agree with sandee except I skip one step. I buy blueberries in two pound tubs from Costco. That tub is slightly more than the capacity of a Zip Lock one quart freezer bag. I fill the bag really full and freeze it. I eat the remaining fresh ones that day or the next.
FS
June 30, 2017
Wow, this thread really gets the comments, even though it's an old one.
I agree with those that recommend freezing rinsed and dried blueberries, that's what I do. As for any other berries ... sigh ... there isn't much good stuff to choose from where I live in the semi-rural Deep South. Strawberries and raspberries come from the store, and lately I haven't even seen organic
strawberries. Farmers market, you say? Not within 30 or so miles from here, and most of the few fruit stands that sporadically pop up offer commercially grown produce.
Growing strawberries and raspberries isn't a solution, they don't like our climate, bugs and diseases. Blueberries do well for some, alas, my plants died. Sigh ... Long story short, I will try the vinegar trick on strawberries.
I agree with those that recommend freezing rinsed and dried blueberries, that's what I do. As for any other berries ... sigh ... there isn't much good stuff to choose from where I live in the semi-rural Deep South. Strawberries and raspberries come from the store, and lately I haven't even seen organic
strawberries. Farmers market, you say? Not within 30 or so miles from here, and most of the few fruit stands that sporadically pop up offer commercially grown produce.
Growing strawberries and raspberries isn't a solution, they don't like our climate, bugs and diseases. Blueberries do well for some, alas, my plants died. Sigh ... Long story short, I will try the vinegar trick on strawberries.
sandee
June 29, 2017
Don't wash the bluberries, lay them out in a single layer and freeze them. When they are completely frozen, remove them and put in freezer bag. When you want to use some, grab the amount you want, rinse them in cold water,
lay them out on a paper towel. They will defrost in a couple of minutes
lay them out on a paper towel. They will defrost in a couple of minutes
Soc P.
July 26, 2016
ok then, where I live, the nearest direct farm stand is 90 minutes away. has limited amounts of whatever they planted that year, and is not close to any other farm or farm stand. I have visited 5 of the farms that come to the farmer's market and have known who they are and what they grow for years. when my kids were young (and homeschooled) we went to the farms every couple of weeks to pick our own along with several other families. It is an all day activity and you never know what is going to be available. I learned to can all kinds of things. Now, the traffic is worse. most of these farms and farmstands are at least 2 hours away. It takes more than an hour to get to annapolis and the farmstands are beyond that. yes, some markets get their products from warehouses. my daughter's friend does that in maryland -- he goes to the warehouse and stocks his market stand from there. still might be fresher than the grocery store where they go to the warehouse a couple of days a week. I am pretty sure that most of us are aware of these things and know that if we could, we would pick in the early morning and keep the ripe beauties dry on the counter until eaten by our grateful and well fed families. I appreciate the growers wanting us to know what to do if we get these beauties in our hands. the reality is that we have to make do with what we can get, sometimes under trying circumstances, and any advice that might help is worth a try. would be nice if messages from growers or other experts could start with an identifier like "grower" or "restaurant chef" or whatever so that we can appreciate the circumstances that the advice is based on.
off in search of a "fresh" fennel for a sick friend (they have mostly gone to seed with the heat around here, but maybe I can find a nice full and frondy one hiding in the shade...)
off in search of a "fresh" fennel for a sick friend (they have mostly gone to seed with the heat around here, but maybe I can find a nice full and frondy one hiding in the shade...)
george H.
July 21, 2016
I'm certainly not going to repeat my comment from a year ago(see about 20 comments below) but you folks must get really crummy produce compared with the west coast to need to try all of these elaborate methods.
LaMar
July 22, 2016
haha! I'm from the east coast and just returned from visiting my relative in LA, and YES I WAS JEALOUS
suzan C.
July 22, 2016
yes, i read your comments and found them interesting. i live in a desert far far away (not arizona) so, yes, i have some crummy produce, mostly strawberries
Soc P.
July 26, 2016
So glad your market has only the freshest produce available. I shop at the once a week farmer's market here in northern virginia, and rarely does a berry last more than a few days. You are fortunate that your farmers, berries and lifestyle are so perfect. Please consider that this discussion is taking place because some of us need to find ways to keep our food as fresh and un-gross as possible.
george H.
July 26, 2016
I generally buy my strawberries not at the farmer's market but from the grower's produce stand. Having grown up on and off around the Chesapeake Bay(Virginia, Maryland, Delaware) I know those places exist. My grandparents operated one. If you live in the DC sprawl you may have to travel to find fresh berries but I'll bet they're out there. I live in the San Francisco Bay area so it's not exactly rural here. Takes me at least an hour round trip to go get strawberries so I buy a flat or two. Give some away to elderly friends of my parents, usually by a half flat for a client(I'm a builder) and ten I pick through the ones I'm keeping. Any with cuts or bruises are capped and frozen for winter smoothies. Only the most perfect ones get wrapped in paper towels and refrigerated. One thing that is better out here is it's dry all summer. Strawberries don't like being rained on and once they've gotten wet the only way to save them is to thoroughly dry them before they are put away. Remember also that most vendors at "farmer's markets" aren't farmers, at least out here. Many just go down to the wholesale produce markets and pick up their stuff. That's where the colorfully printed boxes come from. I know that you think that I'm picking on you but Food52 keeps sending me e-mails about another post on this thread. I keep chiming in because the few professional growers who have posted on here ALL say keep the berries dry and cool and NOT to pre-wash them. So you may think that I'm some West Coast superior to thou type but I'm really just trying to get you to listen to the damn people who actually grow the things.
Lynn C.
July 21, 2016
The best way, I have found, to extend the life of strawberries is to hull them and then to stand them, on the hulled end, on a paper towel lined airtight container & store in the refrigerator. You'll be surprised just how long they last.
susan F.
July 20, 2016
I wash all my vegetables and fruit as soon as I get home from grocery store. I use solution of small squirt of dishwashing detergent (like Dawn) and 1/4 c of white vinegar to large bowl of cold tap water. I rinsed and dry on towel or drying pad. This trick I learned from my new daughter-in-law. Amazing how fresh my vegetables last! The only problem has been with fuzzy fruits like peaches and apricots. They brown quickly.
Bob M.
July 20, 2016
Yep. This works for most things. The fewer chemicals in the dish soap the better.
Rosa L.
June 29, 2017
Water to vinegar ratio of 10:1, rinse any berries in the solution, lift out of solution, drain in a colander and refrigerate...preferably in a Tupperware fresh product container. They should easily last 1-2 weeks.
suzan C.
July 20, 2016
i have been using a vinegar rinse for about 2 years. it has worked fabulously with strawberries, they keep at least 2 weeks or until i use them up. blueberries don't seem to give me much trouble. (i don't rinse the strawberries but don't notice a vinegar flavor, maybe it's because i don't use alot of vinegar)
Merry
July 20, 2016
We have had great success with Fresh Paper from Fenugreen. First discovered at the Dupont Farmer's Market in DC and now find it in Whole Foods and on Amazon. Great for berries, greens, etc.
CookingIsLikeLove
June 16, 2016
So hard to say what works as it all depends on the berry. Raspberries barely make it all the way home and end up stored in my tummy. Blackberries get a vinegar rinse with cold water to get rid of the tiny white bugs, then are either inhaled or last long enough to get put in a pie. Blueberries are given a quick rinse then popped into my mouth, sometimes making it to the freezer....
Walter B.
June 10, 2016
I tried this with raspberries, but after a day, they had become spottily pale, had lost some of their juice, and were pretty tasteless.
LaMar
June 9, 2016
Wow, so much work. Put UNWASHED berries into glass jars with lids in the fridge. They last for weeks (really...weeks...it's bizarre. Something about bacteria not getting into the jar) google this method, it really works for the blueberries and raspberries I frequently buy in large quantities.
tamater S.
July 20, 2016
I hope this works, I really do, because how simple is that? Since you say you've been doing it, I'll trust, and thank you in advance!
Stephanee R.
July 26, 2015
I have always placed paper towel lining the bottom & then the top of the original containers after 1st examining EVERY berry in the package. Blackberries that feel as tho their little postules will explode any moment should be eaten 1st. Yum!
Laura415
July 23, 2016
This is what I do to. I just categorize them. The squishy or very ripe berries get used the first night. The rest get placed not touching, if I can, on a paper towel in a glass storage container. If I don't think I'll eat them soon I sometimes freeze fragile fruit for use in smoothies later. I never put squished fruit or berries that I've cut mold off of in with berries I need to store.
BTW that white powdery stuff on the outside of apples and plums and grapes is usually yeast not mold.
BTW that white powdery stuff on the outside of apples and plums and grapes is usually yeast not mold.
Rosa L.
July 23, 2015
The vinegar rinse I use is just 10 to 1 water to vinegar. I don't rinse them, berries stay fresh for days and there is no residual taste of vinegar.
The best containers for keeping ANY produce fresh are the Tupperware Refrigerator Keepers. Different types of fruits and vegetables require differing amounts of air flow. These containers have two little tabs you open or close and a handy chart printed on the side to tell you which to used. They come in a variety of sizes. No party necessary. Just search Tupperware in your browser.
Between the rinse and the Tupperware my berries stay fresh much longer. And, no, I don't sell Tupperware.
The best containers for keeping ANY produce fresh are the Tupperware Refrigerator Keepers. Different types of fruits and vegetables require differing amounts of air flow. These containers have two little tabs you open or close and a handy chart printed on the side to tell you which to used. They come in a variety of sizes. No party necessary. Just search Tupperware in your browser.
Between the rinse and the Tupperware my berries stay fresh much longer. And, no, I don't sell Tupperware.
george H.
July 16, 2015
I am new to this thread but it has me scratching my head. Why, when the people who grow berries tell you to never pre-wash them, not to use vinegar but to keep them cool and dry do you keep talking about how you do both? Can't you read? Did you look at my 16 day old UNWASHED strawberries? Does anyone want to do this wash thing, wait 16 days and then show us a picture of what you have now?
In answer to Karen I do store blueberries in the refrigerator. I store them in the two pound plastic container that they are sold in. Just finished the last from a two pound container(over two weeks old) this morning and they were fine. As the summer wears on the blueberries have more of a tendency to mold. I always invert the container and look for mold before buying. If you get a few moldy berries in a container after storing for a while cull them out and wash only the ones that you are going to use just before use with plain water. Once you start seeing moldy berries on the bottom, buy smaller containers and use them faster. When that gets financially burdensome, go to your freezer for some of the ones that you froze while they were cheap and perfect. Frozen ones won't work for everything but they're fine on breakfast cereal and in a smoothie.
In answer to Karen I do store blueberries in the refrigerator. I store them in the two pound plastic container that they are sold in. Just finished the last from a two pound container(over two weeks old) this morning and they were fine. As the summer wears on the blueberries have more of a tendency to mold. I always invert the container and look for mold before buying. If you get a few moldy berries in a container after storing for a while cull them out and wash only the ones that you are going to use just before use with plain water. Once you start seeing moldy berries on the bottom, buy smaller containers and use them faster. When that gets financially burdensome, go to your freezer for some of the ones that you froze while they were cheap and perfect. Frozen ones won't work for everything but they're fine on breakfast cereal and in a smoothie.
Rosa L.
November 12, 2015
There are several roads to any destination. Just like you, I and I am sure others here, do what works for them.
george H.
November 12, 2015
Interesting philosophical response but if your mechanic told you that if you wanted to be able to drive your car you need to use gasoline as a fuel not water, would you basically respond "different strokes for different folks, I'll use water"? The growers that have responded here are like your mechanic. They know what they're talking about. They said not to do this. But I guess with some people I'm just beating my head against the wall.
David E.
June 11, 2016
Maybe your refrigerator keeps them more dry than mine, but I normally only wash strawberries when I eat them and they never last 16 days. Maybe a week at best. So while "different strokes for different folks" may not be appropriate as a "philosophical response", it most certainly is to those who do not have the same experience that you do. If you have any other scientific suggestions that may be helpful to those of us who don't experience 16 days (without washing) I would love to hear them.
Laura415
July 23, 2016
George Hamilton: This site is more of a BNBR (be nice be reasonable) forum than a free for all, rude comments are ok, kind of forum.
Jude R.
May 8, 2022
By the time strawberries get to Minnesota they are DAYS OLDER than those in the California and Florida etc. markets thus prone to spoiling in less than the 15 days you say that you keep yours. There is no way they would stay fresh without extra steps.
george H.
July 10, 2015
These strawberries have been wrapped in paper towels and refrigerated for a couple of days over two weeks. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/suburbangeorge/DSCN1048_zpsol4jqws8.jpg
Marc B.
July 10, 2015
If you don't have a spinner use a pillow case and whip it around like a cowboy lasso!
Just T.
July 8, 2015
As soon as we bring any berries into the house from the market, we soak them for about 10 min in the vinegar bath mentioned above. I do not rinse my berries. However, I do try to dry them pretty good. My question??? how do you get the hazy film off of the blueberries. I put a few in a colander and roll them around. This removes a lot, however, it will also act as a sandpaper if you do it too long.
Laura415
July 23, 2016
That hazy film is natural yeast and if you don't have a problem with yeasts it's perfectly healthy to stay on there and for you to eat it. It's often on plums and fresh apples too.
Marjorie K.
July 8, 2015
I tried this method on strawberries and they turned to mush! I agree with the professional growers - keep the berries dry and cold and only rinse them before consuming.
Tess O.
July 7, 2015
I have used this method for years and I swear by it. I find it's easiest to use my salad spinner. I fill the spinner with the water and vinegar solution and then when it's time to rinse the fruit I just lift out the basket and rinse with the sprayer. Then I use the same solution for the next batch of fruit. I use this for all my fruit: berries, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, and most of my vegetables.
Kristy
July 1, 2015
Over-ripe berries can easily be used to flavor kombucha. You just pop them in and let them soak. They can be consumed as well if you chop them up well. Just leave enough room at the top since fruit ferments quickly and adds to the carbonation. Strawberries are especially good in kombucha.
Brenda P.
July 1, 2015
I have no problem eating them the first day. If I do have overnight berries, I gently turn the plastic clamshell over so that they are resting on their opposite side. Just put them on everything, yogurt, desserts, salads, entrees, don't even try to "save" them! They are like manna!
dylan
June 30, 2015
If the berries are a bit past their prime try fermenting them (not into alcohol) for a few days. they are AMAZING
silverspringcat
July 2, 2015
Yes, I have all three sizes of the OXO produce keeper and even went back to the buy the medium size so that I would have 2. They so far are working wonderfully. I had lettuce in one for 3 weeks and it was perfect.
gustus
June 30, 2015
Has anybody tried the new "Greensaver" product from Oxo? It comes with a replaceable activated charcoal filter that they say soaks up the ethylene gas that produce emits which otherwise accelerates spoilage. I trust the Oxo brand but would love to get some feedback from actual users.
silverspringcat
July 2, 2015
Yes, I have all three sizes of the OXO produce keeper and even went back to the buy the medium size so that I would have 2. They so far are working wonderfully. I had lettuce in one for 3 weeks and it was perfect.
cindy
June 30, 2015
as a strawberry grower - we don't ever recommend the vinegar method explained here. We recommend no washing at all until ready to serve and then just use a gentle spray of cool water in the colander. Strawberries should be washed with the caps intact so no flavor is washed away. When you get berries home, you can transfer them to a Tupperware type container lined with a paper towel and keep them in the fridge. The most important thing to remember is that berries like to be cold and dry!
george H.
June 30, 2015
Interesting to see my earlier post confirmed by a professional berry grower. "Cold and dry". My method was taught to me by a strawberry grower that I bought from at a local farmer's market. Don't know why you all have mold issues unless your berries aren't very recently picked and then sat out at room temperature or above.
ustabahippie
July 2, 2015
Glad to see this confirmation. I still have strawberries in good shape after several days wrapped in a cotton napkin and kept in the container in which they were purchased with no top.
Ruby O.
June 29, 2015
You will find it awfully difficult to remove the taste of vinegar from strawberries. I just tried this trick and then rinsed the berries for quite some time. The old adage "if it seems too good to be true..." We are now treating our berries with baking soda to neutralize the acid of the vinegar.
silverspringcat
July 2, 2015
that's odd I did the vinegar rinse and then rinses with cold water and there was no lingering taste of vinegar. A week later and my berries kept in the OXO keeper were as fresh as when I got them.
James R.
June 29, 2015
so many contradictory comments..I am going to try the hot water method, then use my salad spinner and then place in one of my rubbermaid produce saver containers
Rudy
June 29, 2015
I agree with Deacon Maccubbin, I only buy enough that will be consumed. I will buy more if they are on special, but I always wash the strawberries and cut off the greens. I then place the strawberries in a glass container and leave it in the fridge uncovered. They last a few days, but usually they are eaten by then.
Anne
June 29, 2015
If you're willing to spend $9.49, then the easiest way to keep berries perfect for 5-6 days is to go straight to Amazon.com and buy the Prepworks from Progressive International LKS-08 Berry Keeper. I kid you not, it is remarkable. I'm a raspberry fanatic, and we all know how quickly they go bad. (The minute you get them home practically.) No, I don't work for Amazon or the container company. We have all sizes of their containers though and they keep fruits and veg in great shape for a ridiculous amount of time.
Jill
June 29, 2015
i freeze the blueberries right in the container they come in. I take out what i need for that morning's cereal, and wash them. They are still a little frozen in the cereal, but delish
Katherine H.
July 2, 2015
Same here. I freeze them and pick on them whenever I want a cold snack. They last for weeks or more.
Monica M.
June 29, 2015
A long time ago on Martha Stewart's old show she said rinse your blue, raz and black berries under cold water, dry on paper towels and put them on plates, I use styrophome without touching each other and put in the fridge (and I put another towels on them). They mostly keep for a week and so do my strawberries.
Walter B.
June 29, 2015
Harold McGee recommends a 30-second bath in 135-degree water. I've found this quite successful.
Rosemarie M.
June 29, 2015
I store them in glass mason jars and don't wash them until I'm ready to consume them! Found this on the internet and it's amazing!!
Panfusine
June 29, 2015
I use lukewarm water with white vinegar when washing the berries. then let them dry out on paper towels layered over a colander.
Deacon M.
June 29, 2015
That's a lot of work! I've got a much simpler way -- buy smaller quantities more frequently and eat 'em up within 3 or 4 days! I rarely ever lose any berries to mold that way, and I am never without berries in my fridge.
[email protected]
June 29, 2015
I use 1 oz vinegar, either apple cider or reg. vinegar to 10 oz water for a 6 oz container of berries. I usually only do this for the "fuzzy" berries, like raspberries or strawberries. Just swish them for about 15 sec. and rinse, spread on a paper towel and gently dry them. I rinse out the container they came in and put the dry berries back in. That vinegar is so diluted you can't taste it, but my hubby says he can, so he rinses what he needs for his cereal. The last well over a week.
george H.
June 29, 2015
Blue berries out here in the west may not be exactly the same as eastern varieties but a two pound tub from Costco will live well over a week in the refrigerator just as they came from the store. Strawberries I buy from a strawberry grower about 30 minutes away from home so to make the trip worthwhile I buy at least half a flat. Three baskets will keep up to two weeks if the entire basket is wrapped in paper towels, unwashed, then stored in a gallon sized Ziplock freezer bag. The other three baskets have the stems cut out and are put in quart sized Ziplock freezer bags, unwashed, and frozen for use during the winter months. I also freeze unwashed blueberries when they're cheap. They both go in my daily fruit smoothie breakfast along with other fruits, orange juice and a raw egg. I don't wash fresh or frozen fruit until just before use.
marthafelix
June 29, 2015
Leave them unwashed in a cool part of your house(but not in the fridge) in a flat plate side by side avoiding them to touch each other.
susan H.
June 29, 2015
after washing berries, put them in a wide, shallow, paper towel-lined container and let them air dry for a few hours. you want as few layers of berries as your container can accommodate. i leave them uncovered in the refrigerator.
Marcia A.
June 29, 2015
Blue berries I wash dry & freeze...or just freeze in original plastic container...you can then just use / or just pop in your mouth whenever you want.
Strawberries .. wash, remove stems , dry and sprinkle with sugar..
They stay well in the frig or freezer for quite a while.
I have never lost a berry yet.
Strawberries .. wash, remove stems , dry and sprinkle with sugar..
They stay well in the frig or freezer for quite a while.
I have never lost a berry yet.
Hermione
June 29, 2015
This sounds great, I will try this with the blueberries I have just bought!
www.hermionespantry.com
www.hermionespantry.com
Patsy H.
June 29, 2015
I am interested in the lovely pottery colander with the berries. I looked on your products page.
c J.
June 29, 2015
I use white vinegar. Ideally in a solution of one part vinegar to 3 parts water. I soak berries, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, pretty much everything for 30 seconds and then rinse a couple of times. I never taste the vinegar. I have heard that you can put the mixture in a spray bottle and then spray the fruit, wait 30 seconds and rinse. I haven't tried it, but I'm assuming I'd go through less vinegar that way!
Madeline F.
June 29, 2015
I like the idea of the spray bottle. Incidentally, I will try to spray my lettuce, but since I use vinegar in my salad dressing anyway, I may not need to rinse the lettuce. Thanks for your ideas.
Cheryl
June 15, 2015
I like fresh blueberries in my oatmeal. I take a container of them after shopping and put them right in a zip lock bag and into the freezer. I always have fresh berries for my breakfast.
Karen
June 10, 2015
What other method could I use to dry them if I do not have a salad spinner?
shepherd
June 29, 2015
Make your own: take a kitchen towel, place them gently in the middle, pull up the sides to create a basket. Go outside and windmill your arm around with the berries. Don't do this inside, or you'll decorate your kitchen with berry juice.
Meg
June 8, 2015
The same seems to work for lettuce, too. On Sunday, wash lettuce with vinegar, dry well, chop, even add cut carrots, whole cherry tomatoes, and celery washed the same way. Store in the fridge in a large container covered in a couple layers of paper towels and have fresh salad for a week!
julie
June 8, 2015
I have learned to wash berries and anything else edible in a 10% vinegar solution. Mix 1/4 cup of cider vinegar with water, rinse or soak a minute, then do not wash off, just lay the berries in a paper towel, put back into their store container and blueberries from Costco will last at least a month! A proven gentle and healthy solution... And cheap to do!
Jamie D.
June 8, 2015
An ozone veggie washer, like this one, makes your fruits and veggies last much longer than you'd expect. Sure, it's an investment, but well worth it - even removes pesticides and I don't know how, but the oxygen makes berries taste... brighter? It's pretty cool. You can even "bubble" water to drink and it's a hangover helper. ;)
http://www.earthsafeozone.com/veggie-washer.php
http://www.earthsafeozone.com/veggie-washer.php
MrsWheelbarrow
June 8, 2015
Overripe of moldy berries will not make good jam. Once a berry has passed its expiration date, the pectin is gone and the jam will tend to taste fermented. Not in a good way. Overripe berries are perfect for boozy infusions (think shrubs or in vodka) or to flavor vinegar.
ustabahippie
June 7, 2015
I wrap my strawberries in a cotton napkin and put them in an open container in the fridge. They last over a week, if I don't eat them all first.
CoffeeAndBaconYum
September 17, 2014
How long do you need to "dunk" the berries in the vinegar solution? I swirled blackberries in a bowl with the 1:3 vinegar to water solution for about one minute then rinsed well with cold running water at least four times. I ate a berry and could still taste the apple cider vinegar. :-(
I bought the blackberries on Sunday and refrigerated them in a closed plastic container with a paper towel. As of today (Weds), the berries have ripened a bit but are still good. I remembered this article and decided to give it a try. Perhaps this works best with fresh picked berries? I wondered if they had absorbed some of the vinegar because they were softer after a few days.
I bought the blackberries on Sunday and refrigerated them in a closed plastic container with a paper towel. As of today (Weds), the berries have ripened a bit but are still good. I remembered this article and decided to give it a try. Perhaps this works best with fresh picked berries? I wondered if they had absorbed some of the vinegar because they were softer after a few days.
nanaB
August 17, 2014
Before reading about this method, I have been putting blueberries in a colander and running water over them thoroughly. Then I pour them out on a kitchen towel to dry. I gently rub them as dry as I can, then put a paper towel in the bottom of a plastic container with lid. They keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks or more. I'm anxious to try this new method to see if they keep longer. I do the same with strawberries, except I pull the stems off first. Then wash them so the dirt under the leaves is washed off, then dry them. After they dry I slice them, add a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, stir them, then put them in a container with a paper towel in the fridge and close the container. (Note: I have a red towel I use just for berries. Strawberry stains can't be seen. lol)
Rebecca C.
July 30, 2014
the comments talk about apple cider vinegar but, the article simply says vinegar. i used the plain, old, distilled white. will that work? never done this before.
Ted J.
June 7, 2015
Distiller white is perfectly fine. Just make sure you rinse the berries well whichever vinegar you use to eliminate any vinegar taste. And dry them thoroughly; they'll keep for a week or three if they last that long!
julie
August 5, 2013
You make it all so difficult! I rinse my berries in a 10% cider vinegar solution., do not rinse, place back into the container they came in with a paper towel lining the bottom. It drains, it breathes, and the berries last weeks, if need be! I purchase the large Costco containers and they last a very long time.
Darlene M.
August 5, 2013
don't know about berries, but I keep onion longer by peeling outer layers and cutting off ends. Then I wrap it in a paper towel and keep it in the fridge in a plastic container. I change the paper towel every couple days. The onion dries slowly but the taste doesn't change. I have used an onion little by little for up to a month this way.
laurelei235
July 2, 2013
Different trick. Especially with berries that come in the clear plastic containers, I fill my 2qt mixing bowl 2/3 with water, add a splash of hydrogen peroxide, and then dunk everything, containers and berries, in the liquid. To get all sides, I may have to turn the box upside down, sideways, etc. Then I put my berries on a plate and let them sit on the counter an hour or so to drain and dry a bit. Then into the fridge. My last purchase started to dehydrate, but no mold.
muse2323
June 30, 2013
I was able to keep four pounds of washed blueberries last summer for four weeks in my Tupperware FridgeSmart container--and that without doing a vinegar rinse, which I have been doing this year. We forgot about them in the fridge--they got shoved to the back; I dreaded opening them when I found them, but they were just as good as the day we bought them from the farmers market, and continued to be just as good till we polished them off weeks later.
Eager to see if the vinegar rinse helps me keep my raspberries and blackberries longer this year (not that they're ever around long enough to go bad--we don't buy them five pounds at a time).
Eager to see if the vinegar rinse helps me keep my raspberries and blackberries longer this year (not that they're ever around long enough to go bad--we don't buy them five pounds at a time).
Shelby B.
June 21, 2013
I have found that if you slice strawberries, lightly sprinkle with sugar, then add a few grains of salt(just what you can hold between your thumb and index finger) they will be good for a very long time. Store in the refrigerator, of course. Read this tip in Gourmet or Bon Appetit.
Laura415
July 23, 2016
I find this idea interesting. Sugar is hygroscopic so it tends to draw water out of the berry and create a sweetened strawberry juice and the strawberry becomes markedly softer and almost translucent. I much prefer the slight firmness and tart sweet flavor of berries that haven't gone through the sugar treatment. Maybe you use very little sugar so that doesn't happen?
calendargirl
June 21, 2013
This is definitely worth a try and I am going to get right to it. My current trick is to use a product I first saw at a local farmers market a year ago: Fresh Paper. It works for all sorts of produce, but in my experience it is best for berries and I have not tossed any since using it. It's available at some Whole Foods stores but also online from the manufacturers/inventors: http://www.fenugreen.com/
David E.
May 9, 2022
So now that you have much more experience, where is the cheapest place to get it?
barb48
June 20, 2013
Once they've been dried off, how should they be stored in the fridge or should they stay on the counter?
lucia
August 5, 2013
Place them in a glass jar. They can keep up to a year in the freezer or some months in the fridge (dry but fresh, not leathery).
Same applies also to dry mushrooms without loosing its flavour.
Lucia
Same applies also to dry mushrooms without loosing its flavour.
Lucia
Gildy
June 20, 2013
Thank you, I'm on a limited budget, trying to eat healthily but get tired of losing fruit because of this...will give it a go and tell others.
Rhonda35
June 20, 2013
Since I just dumped an entire container of moldy raspberries into the garbage a half hour ago, I am SO happy to see this helpful post. Thank you!
chelsey
June 20, 2013
I am in love with this. I like to keep berries on hand all summer, but it gets frustrating when the next day a whole box is on its way out! This is amazing! I'm so excited to try it.
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