How To Prep and Store Fresh Strawberries To Make Them Last
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!
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!