Avoid food waste with the best method for how-to prep and store strawberries! This is the best way to extend the shelf life of strawberries, which is perfect during the strawberry season when berries are at their peak and easy to come by. You’ll find a how-to video, my favorite storage method, we’ll chat about how long do strawberries last in the fridge, and I’ll cover the best containers to extend the shelf life of your strawberries!
How to prep and store fresh strawberries to make them last
Strawberries are a family favorite in our house and one my husband loves to have on hand to add to his morning yogurt.
For a family of 6, I buy a whole bunch of ripe strawberries at once during my weekly grocery shopping trip. I love when they are in season!
I’ve learned how to make them last until my next trip to the grocery store, and beyond! A little prep goes a long way, and we have yet to throw out any strawberries.
Less food waste = more money saved and I love that!
How long do strawberries last in the fridge?
Properly prepped strawberries will last for more than 1 week in the fridge. Even up to 2 weeks! The image above shows what they look like after 1 week of storing in the fridge.
The main reason for spoilage is excess moisture. The good news – is it can be avoided!
Whole strawberries you buy at your local grocery store and simply place in the fridge will not last long very long. I find if I do nothing and they go from the grocery store to the crisper drawer, I have a good 3-4 days, and even with that, I’ll find moldy strawberries.
The same happens if I leave them at room temperature.
The strawberries will be fine for a couple of days and then moldy strawberries start to take over and they all go back quickly. Has that ever happened to you??
The biggest issue with not prepping your fresh strawberries is getting rid of the strawberries that are on their way to going bad. Once you have gray mold or a soft spot, things go downhill quickly and your ripe berries become bad faster than you’d like.
Should you use a vinegar wash?
A popular method is to use a vinegar bath. Vinegar can be helpful in washing off pesticides and killing mold spores. I’d tried the method of adding some distilled vinegar into my water bath and the effect wasn’t very different than a simple water bath.
The issue with adding vinegar is that the ratio needed is 4 cups of water to 1 cup of white vinegar.
Typically, I’m seeing people mention adding a splash of vinegar into the cold water, and it just doesn’t make a difference because the quantity added is not large enough.
If you choose to add vinegar, just make sure to use the 4:1 ratio of parts water to part vinegar.
What you’ll need for strawberry prep and storage
- unwashed strawberries
- large bowl
- paper towels
- airtight container
Favorite glass storage containers
Here are my favorite glass storage containers that work great for fresh strawberry storage.
- Glass mason jar – wide mouth quart and wide mouth pint sizes are great glass jar options!
- Shallow glass dishes – the best option for airtight containers – both the snap lid and leak proof lid are excellent choices that give you many size options
READ: My favorite earth friendly food storage options
How to prep and store fresh strawberries
- When you bring your strawberries home in either a closed plastic clamshell container or you’ve picked berries from a strawberry plant, place strawberries in a large bowl filled with cold water (not warm water!). Let the strawberries sit in the water for 2 minutes. It’s a good idea to gently use your hand to move the berries around and help any dirt to get removed.
- Pour the bowl of fresh fruits into a large colander and rinse with cool water.
- Place a towel on your counter and lay the berries in a single layer on the towel. Now the important part – let them sit out for 2-3 hours to fully dry. If put the strawberries back in their original container, or straight into the fridge they’ll go moldy quickly.
- After a few hours, you’ll want to take the whole berries and cut off the tops along with any signs of spoilage – look for soft spots and get rid of those, they will contaminate the whole bunch! Pre-cut the strawberries to the size you’d like.
- Take a paper towel and lay it on the bottom of your shallow container. Add a single layer of the prepped strawberries, and if it’s a larger glass container, add another paper towel between layers.
- Add your lid to make the container air tight, and store it in the fridge!
Watch me prep my strawberries for the week!
The full how-to video can be watched below or on my YouTube channel!
This is the exact method I use to make our fresh strawberries last for over a week!
Best place to keep your strawberries
Freshly prepared strawberries should be kept in the fridge. Storing in the fridge extends the shelf life because the chill slows any mold growth.
The original packaging should be avoided for best results because it can contain mold spores in it. Plus, if you’re looking to avoid extra plastic use like I am, then glass containers are the way to go!
How to freeze strawberries
Looking to freeze your strawberries? Here’s the best way.
Follow the how-to steps above through step 4. They’ll be cleaned and cut and ready for storage.
Place a sheet of parchment paper on a large baking sheet and add a single layer of strawberries onto it.
Put the baking sheet in the freezer and let the berries fully freeze.
Once your strawberries are frozen solid, transfer them into a freezer plastic bag and remove as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn. Label and date your freezer bag and your frozen strawberries are good to go for up to 6 months!
This is a great way to keep your strawberries for a long shelf life.
Favorite strawberry recipes
Now that you have delicious fresh berries ready to eat and use, here are some favorite ways to use them!
- Strawberry kale salad with poppy seed dressing
- Strawberry banana peanut butter smoothie
- Easy strawberry chia jam
- Healthy dessert pizza
- Low sugar strawberry rhubarb jam
How To Prep and Store Fresh Strawberries To Make Them Last
Materials
- unwashed strawberries
- large bowl
- paper towels
- airtight container
Instructions
- When you bring your strawberries home in either a closed plastic clamshell container or you’ve picked berries from a strawberry plant, place strawberries in a large bowl filled with cold water (not warm water!). Let the strawberries sit in the water for 2 minutes. It’s a good idea to gently use your hand to move the berries around and help any dirt to get removed.
- Pour the bowl of fresh fruits into a large colander and rinse with cool water.
- Place a towel on your counter and lay the berries in a single layer on the towel. Now the important part – let them sit out for 2-3 hours to fully dry. If put the strawberries back in their original container, or straight into the fridge they’ll go moldy quickly.
- After a few hours, you’ll want to take the whole berries and cut off the tops along with any signs of spoilage – look for soft spots and get rid of those, they will contaminate the whole bunch! Pre-cut the strawberries to the size you’d like.
- Take a paper towel and lay it on the bottom of your shallow container. Add a single layer of the prepped strawberries, and if it’s a larger glass container, add another paper towel between layers.
- Add your lid to make the container air tight, and store it in the fridge!
If you try my method for prepping and storing fresh strawberries, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it goes for you!
XO
Heather
