Wondering how to make the most of strawberry season? Use these simple strategies to store strawberries to keep them fresh.
Strawberries have always been my favorite berry. That’s probably because they are the only berry I remember eating as a child. I lived a sheltered life, apparently. I’ve since expanded my horizons to include raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries, and olallieberries, but my heart has a special place for strawberries.
Years ago living in Santa Barbara and then Paso Robles, I discovered that you could buy strawberries in huge quantities for reasonable prices at the farmer’s market. Since I am quick to nab a deal, I did so. Sometimes, however, I found that I’d be disappointed by moldy berries.
Turns out I didn’t know how to store berries to keep them fresh or how to freeze them so they weren’t in one big clump.
How to Store Strawberries to Keep Them Fresh
Once I learned a few tricks about how to store strawberries, the road was wide open to stocking up on strawberries any time I found a sale.
In this week’s video, I demonstrate the best ways to store strawberries as well as the method I use to wash and freeze them.
Lisa
When you freeze berries like this do they become mushy when they are thawed?
Jessica Fisher
Yes, thawing berries after freezing will always result in soft berries. Thawed berries are best used in smoothies or for cooking.
Stephanie
These are some great tips. I’ve been using them for all of berries I have purchased this summer and it’s been perfect. Thank you
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you are enjoying great berries this summer. Ours are all gone. 🙁
Michelle
I saw the video and wanted to pass along a tip about coring berries that someone told me about. I use a sturdy
straw like the ones at the fast food rest. I push the tip of the straw through the bottom of the berry and it takes out
the core and the stem at the same time. If you have a large berry you may have to do twice. I then put the berries on a sheet like you do and freeze. Works like a charm and so much faster than a knife.
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the tip!