The selection of berry varieties in summer is particularly large and we all love the small fruits that are rich in valuable vitamins and nutrients. We often buy a few packs of berries at the supermarket, and just a few days later they are already covered in mold spores. But we'll explain what you can do about it and how you can make the delicious berries last longer.
Berry season is just around the corner and when the warm weather arrives, you can't get enough of the sweet strawberries, plump blueberries and juicy raspberries. Luckily, there are a few simple tricks you can use to keep your prized berries fresh and mold-free for as long as possible in the summer.
Make berries last longer with vinegar
Wondering why berries don't last long in the fridge? The problem is the mold spores that can be found on all berries. Thanks to a quick trick with vinegar, you can kill them and theFruits stay fresh longerlast, giving you more time to use them as needed. However, we recommend that you do not use this solution for raspberries because washing them will shorten their shelf life. For raspberries, simply cooling them in the refrigerator is sufficient.
- Mix 750ml water and 2 tablespoons vinegar in a large bowl.
- Place the berries in the solution and let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring gently every few minutes.
- Drain the fruit in a colander and rinse well under running water.
- Strawberries and blueberries can be dried in a salad spinner lined with paper towels. Spin them until they are completely dry. Place a clean tea towel on the work surface to dry raspberries and blackberries by tipping them out and gently patting them to remove excess water.
- Store the berries in a sealable container lined with paper towels, also placing paper towels between layers. Leave the lid slightly open to allow excess moisture to escape. Store the berriesin the refrigerator.
Wash the strawberries with baking powder
If you have fresh and delicious berries, you can wash them with baking soda to preserve theirto extend shelf life.
Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 500 ml of cold water and stir the solution well. Soak the berries in the solution for 15 minutes, remove them and let them dry completely. After they are cleaned and dried, you should store them in an airtight container. This will absorb the extra moisture and your berries can last in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Keep the berries fresh with a hot water bath
If you don't have vinegar or baking soda at home, you can simply use hot water to kill any bacteria and mold spores, so the berries won't spoil as quickly and will stay fresh longer.
Fill a large bowl with hot water and soak the berries at a water temperature of 50°C for 30 seconds. Place them on a towel or paper towel to allow them to dry completely. This will thoroughly clean your fruits and extend their shelf life in the refrigerator.
Other useful tips for proper storage
After using one of the listed methods to preserve the berries longer, it is equally important to store the fruits properly. Follow these simple tips for refrigerator storage.
- Check the berries before you buy them. If the berries look shiny and fresh, they will probably last longer. If the berries look dull or have wilted stems, they probably won't last as long as you'd like.
- Moldy berries are usually located at the bottom of the container, where all the moisture collects. So when you buy berries, turn the container over to check.
- Always store the berries in a dry place. Moisture is harmful to them. Keeping them dry and refrigerated will slow down the mold and rotting process.
- Check the stored berries regularly to detect the first signs of mold or rot in good time and to remove the affected fruits.
- Store the different types of berries separately as they all spoil at different rates.
- Even if your berries don't go moldy, they may start to shrivel from the loss of moisture in the refrigerator. You can refresh them again by soaking them in ice water for 20 minutes.
And now you have plenty of time to think about what you want to do with all the fresh berriesdifferent recipesto try out.
