Increase the Longevity of Strawberries
by Joslynn Parmely in Cooking > Canning & Preserving
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Increase the Longevity of Strawberries
Hello! My name is Joslynn Parmely. I have been successfully saving money on fresh fruit and would love to help you do the same. Do you often purchase strawberries but become frustrated with how quickly they spoil? Well, I’m here to show you a simple way to increase the longevity of your strawberries. Once you give this a try, your strawberries will last up to 2 weeks or longer!
Agenda:
- How to choose good quality berries
- Materials needed
- Soaking process
- Storing the berries
Choosing Quality Berries
To start this process the right way, it’s important to look for quality strawberries when shopping at the grocery store. The berries should be plump and possess a bright red color. In addition, their leaves should be green; not brown nor wilted. Before purchasing the strawberries, pick up the container, ensuring to look at the top, bottom, and all four sides, checking for any visible mold. If the berries do not show any signs of mold, they are good to purchase.
Gather Supplies
After arriving home with the berries, begin by gathering the necessary supplies.
This includes:
- Large bowl
- White distilled vinegar
- Air-tight container
- 2 kitchen towels
- Strainer
- Liquid measuring cup
- Paper towel
- Strawberries
Create Vinegar Bath
- Fill the bowl with 6 cups cool water and 2 cups vinegar
- Gently transfer strawberries into the mixture
- Allow berries to soak for 5 minutes
Soaking strawberries in a vinegar/water solution kills any potential mold spores that may be growing on the berries!
**Important Note: Don't exceed the 5 minute mark to prevent the strawberries from getting soggy.
Prepare to Dry
While waiting for the berries to soak, lay one kitchen towel flat on the counter and set the strainer in the sink.
Next, line the bottom of the air-tight container with a paper towel. As the strawberries ripen over time, the paper towel will help to absorb that moisture.
Rinse
Once the five minutes is up, gently transfer the strawberries into the strainer and rinse them with cold water for ten seconds.
Dry & Store
After the rinsing is through, set the berries on the kitchen towel and use the second towel to dry them all immediately. Once they’re dry, put them into the container, close the lid, and set it in the fridge. Strawberries last longest in a cold and dry environment.
Enjoy!!
Just a few simple steps and you’re now able to enjoy those fresh strawberries longer than you ever have before. Although it takes a little extra time, taking preventative measures against the inevitable ripening process is worth it. As you learned today, one five-minute vinegar bath is all you need to say hello to long-lasting fruit and goodbye to the frustration of wasting money.