Learning how to keep berries fresh will change your life! No more moldy, wasted berries going in the trash just days after purchasing them. All you need are fresh berries, water, and vinegar to keep your berries fresh for up to 21 days. Show
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We’ve all been there. You open up the carton of berries you just bought a couple of days ago and half of them are moldy! Gross! You dig around to salvage the ones you can, but they’ve been hugging up to the moldy ones, but your attempts are futile. You throw the berries (and your hard-earned money!) into the trash. My mother-in-law taught me this trick to keep my berries fresh for almost forever. Sometimes I get cocky and think, “I don’t need to do it, I’ll use these up before they go bad!” BOOM. MOLD.
After nearly eight years, I’ve learned my lesson and do the everlasting berry hack every time before the berries even see the fridge. Read on to learn how I pick my berries (this whole process starts at the store) and the life-changing trick for how to keep berries fresh! Table of ContentsHOW TO KEEP BERRIES FRESH LONGERTo keep your berries fresh longer, you’ll need to follow these steps:
I will go into more detail on each of these points above. Read on for my best tips on how to keep your berries fresh. WHAT DO I NEED TO PREVENT MOLDY BERRIES?
That’s it! These are the only “ingredients” you need. You’ll also need:
Here are some important tips to keep in mind to help your berries last longer:
In the next few sections, I’ll run through a detailed explanation of how to keep strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries fresher, longer, starting with how to shop for each one. How to pick and Buy the Best fresh strawBerriesBerries are seasonal, but they’re still readily available year-round for the most part. In the spring and summer, they are usually more plentiful and affordable and more expensive in the winter. I like to purchase my berries from the refrigerated section of the produce department, not the ones that are out on display at room temperature. These berries generally have been picked over less, and they are refrigerated. That means that there is less chance of mold growing on the berries before they even get to my house.
First, I look at the bottom of the container. If I see a smashed or moldy berry hiding, I abandon ship right away. In the same breath, if I see any berry juice in the container, I pick another one. If something has been leaking or smashed, it has likely gotten over all the berries around it, which means it is “infected” (for lack of a better term) with more moisture and bacteria. If they look shrivelled or the seeds are very prominent (the flesh has shrunken down around the seeds), they are old and should not be purchased. Next, I pick them by color. I look for strawberries that are bright red all the way up to the stem and have as little pink or white as possible. After that, I look at how green the leaves are. If the leaves are gray and wilted, they’re old. Then, I look for size. The gigantic strawberries generally are white in the middle and aren’t as sweet, so I like picking cases that have the most even distribution of similar, medium-sized berries. HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRIES LAST LONGERTo make strawberries last longer, you need to start with good, healthy strawberries. I cannot emphasize this enough — and the same concept holds true for all berries. So, before anything else, I’m running you through my ultimate guide to picking the best strawberries. Tip 1: Buy in-seasonBerries are seasonal, but they’re still readily available year-round for the most part. In the spring and summer, they are usually more plentiful and affordable and more expensive in the winter. Tip 2: Buy refrigeratedI like to purchase my berries from the refrigerated section of the produce department — not from the display at room temperature. These cold berries generally have been picked over less, and the cold has preserved them better. That means that there is less chance of finding mold hiding on the berries from before they even get to my house. Tip 3: Buy clean and freshRight away, I look at the bottom of the container. If I see a smashed or moldy berry hiding, I abandon ship right away. In the same breath, if I see any berry juice in the container, I pick another one.
If something has been leaking or smashed, it has likely gotten over all the berries around it, which means it has “infected” them (for lack of a better term) with more moisture and bacteria. If the strawberries look shriveled or the seeds are very prominent (the flesh has shrunken down around the seeds), they are old and should not be purchased. Tip 4: Buy bright and smallNext, I pick them by color. I look for strawberries that are bright red all the way up to the stem and have as little pink or white as possible. After that, I look at how green the leaves are. If the leaves are gray and wilted, they’re old. Then, I look for size. Here’s a golden tip: avoid big strawberries. Those gigantic strawberries generally are white in the middle and aren’t as sweet, so I like picking cases that have the most even distribution of similar, medium-sized berries.
How to pick and buy the best fresh blueberriesBlueberries are the easiest and most forgiving of the bunch, because they are a bit more durable that strawberries and raspberries. I pick the best blueberries by choosing the ones that look super plump and have crisp edges on their little crowns. Then, checking the bottom for smashed or leaky berries. Don’t get them if they look really wrinkly and dark. They’re old and shriveled.
HOW TO STORE BLUEBERRIESAgain, the process for how to store fresh blueberries correctly begins in the supermarket, so that’s where my tips begin. Tip 1: Buy plump, crisp, and light blueMy process for picking blueberries and raspberries is very similar to my process for picking strawberries, albeit perhaps a bit easier as blueberries are the easiest and most forgiving of the bunch. They’re a bit more durable than strawberries and raspberries, so it shouldn’t be as hard to find good ones. I pick the best blueberries by choosing the ones that look super plump and have crisp edges on their little crowns. Then, I check the bottom of the container for smashed or leaky berries. Don’t get any berries that look really wrinkly and dark because that means they’re old and shriveled. Tip 2: Enjoy the simplicityLike I said above, blueberries are one of the easiest berries to store. If you buy a good, fresh batch in the store and rinse them properly, they should last you for quite a while.
How to pick and buy the best fresh raspberriesMy process for picking raspberries and blueberries is very similar to strawberries. Raspberries are soft and delicate berries, which is why they are packaged in a single layer. Raspberries are also the first to go bad, which is why it’s important to get them as fresh as possible! First, I look for the reddest raspberries I can. The ones that look pale in color were picked before they were ripe, and are oftentimes hard. I look into the container through the top, bottom, and sides to check for existing black or cloudy mold. Lastly, I make sure every berry looks intact and not torn apart.
HOW TO KEEP RASPBERRIES FRESHRaspberries are soft and delicate berries, which is why they are packaged in a single layer. Raspberries are also the first to go bad, which is why it’s important to get them as fresh as possible! Follow these tips to keep them fresher, longer. Tip 1: Look for vivid color — and avoid blackWhen you’re shopping, look for the reddest raspberries you can find. The ones that look pale in color were picked before they were ripe, and are oftentimes hard. Look into the container through the top, bottom, and sides to check for existing black or cloudy mold. Lastly, make sure every berry looks intact and not torn apart. Tip 2: Dry carefullyAfter the drip-dry, you can spread the berries on a dish towel to get as much moisture off of them as possible. I generally only do this with raspberries and make sure they are all facing down so the “cup” part of the raspberry drains any water. You want as little water as possible on the berries.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS TO KEEP BERRIES FRESHThis hack has prolonged the life of my berries from less than a week to up to 21 days! The average is probably 14 days. These are the steps I take to help extend the life of berries and prevent mold. Keep in mind that this trick does not REVERSE molding or aging in the berries — berries that are already old and moldy will not magically become fresh again.
Voila! This trick will help you to keep your berries fresh for a significantly longer time!
BERRY FAQHOW DOES VINEGAR PREVENT MOLDY BERRIES?The main concept is that the vinegar kills most of the bacteria that’s on the berries, which then prevents mold spores from growing and extends the berries’ shelf life. DO THE BERRIES TASTE LIKE VINEGAR?Nope! I’m sitting here trying to think of a more thorough explanation but I can’t. The paper towel on the bottom might smell like it, but the berries do not taste like vinegar. DO THE BERRIES STILL TASTE GOOD AFTER THE HACK?
Berries on day 1 and day 21 will not be the exact same berry. This hack extends optimal freshness about a week longer than normal. But in my experience, when I’ve done everything possible to keep them fresh, they are fresh enough to eat weeks after purchasing. DO THE BERRIES NEED TO BE FRESH?I like to do this as soon as I get the berries fresh from the store, but you can do them a day or two after. This hack does not reverse the aging process, so don’t try it with already moldy or frozen berries. The point is to kill the bacteria as soon as possible, then lock the freshness in at its freshest point. DOES THIS HACK TO KEEP BERRIES FRESH WORK ON OTHER FRUITS LIKE GRAPES?Yes! This hack works on other berries such as blackberries, cherries, and grapes. I love adding grapes to my FAVORITE Chicken Salad Sandwiches!
About LisaLisa Childs is the food blogger behind Tried, Tested, and True. Join the hundreds of thousands of people each month that learn from Lisa- Subscribe to her website, follow her on Instagram at @tried_tested_true, follow her on Pinterest, and find her on Youtube at Tried Tested and True. She is passionate about giving home cooks confidence using their Instant Pots. Make sure to sign up for our email newsletter to hear from personally from her weekly! Learn more about Lisa.
*I like using my salad spinner bowl and colander for this step, because the colander fits perfectly in the bowl. If you don't have a salad spinner, you can soak the berries in a bowl and then drain the berries in a larger colander, use a frying net, or any other strainer you have. You can ever use a slotted spoon.
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