to Find the Best Method
This is the easiest method to try. Just pop the container in the fridge!
Not bad.
This is a fine storage method if you’re in a rush, as long as you plan to use the berries in 3-5 days. Any longer and they begin to spoil and look unappetizing.
Stir one cup of white vinegar into two cups of water. Place the whole strawberries in the mixture and gently swish them around for about a minute. Then rinse the berries off under clean water
Skip it.
Strawberries absorb water when they’re washed and this accelerates their decay.
Even though they were laid out to dry, the strawberries still had the moisture they absorbed, and this ultimately affected their freshness.
It’s best to wait to wash strawberries until right before you need them for your recipe.
Place whole strawberries on a tray lined with clean paper towels or reusable refrigerator liners.
It works.
The crisper drawer does what it’s supposed to do: it prevents moisture from building up on the strawberries, so they stay fresh.
Spacing the berries out in a single layer on absorbent paper towels was also key to keeping the berries dry.
If you weren’t already using your crisper drawer for fruit, it’s about time you did!
It’s very easy: the directions for FreshPaper say to just drop a sheet in with your produce wherever you’re storing it, in the fridge or at room temperature.
The Verdict: Pretty good.
FreshPaper seems to keep its promise of inhibiting bacteria, since there was no mold on the strawberries.
Because the berries were piled in a carton there was less airflow to the berries near the bottom, and they began to develop soft spots.
If the berries were laid in a single layer with a sheet of FreshPaper, we think they’d do well in the fridge for the full seven days.
Place the strawberries inside resealable freezer bags, and press out all the air.
Great for long term storage.
Freezing strawberries is an excellent choice. When sealed well, the berries last for several months.
It’s important to use thicker, freezer safe bags so that your strawberries won’t absorb odors. Also, squeeze all the air out to prevent freezer burn from forming.
Because freezing breaks down the cell walls of the berries, they will be soft and juicy when you thaw them.
Use the thawed or partially frozen berries in smoothies and milkshakes, in baked dishes like cobblers or muffins, and to make strawberry sauce.
Check through your strawberries to remove any that have mushy spots or mold. Place your unwashed strawberries in a glass mason jar, and stack them loosely so that they aren’t squishing each other.
We love it!
No air can get into the sealed mason jars, and this seems to hold off the decay of the strawberries.
There’s just enough natural moisture in the fruit that the berries stay firm and the leaves stay vibrant.
When we opened the jar it made the same pssshh! noise that you hear when opening a soda: that’s the ethylene gas produced by the strawberries escaping.
It’s important that the strawberries go into the jar unwashed, and that any iffy berries are removed so they don’t affect the rest.
Photo: Kristina Paukshtite
No matter which storage method you decide to try, there are a few rules about storing fresh strawberries to know. All of these tips will help your berries stay fresher and better looking for a longer time.