Berries are one of the most delicious fruits on earth but can also be frustrating to store. They're so fragile that they bruise easily and spoil quickly once they get a little soft. Learning how to keep berries fresh will help ensure you can enjoy them in good time.
When spring and summer produce is in full swing, we are inundated with weeks of berries ripe off the vine or tree. It's a mad dash to figure out to preserve them: dried fruit for snacks, infused vinegar, fruit leather, simple syrup, there is a myriad of options.
However, if you love fresh berries or want to prevent them from spoiling too quickly, you can use plenty of tricks to keep your fruit fresh and delicious. Here are ten tips on how to keep berries fresh.
Wait to Wash Them
Don't wash your berries until you're ready to eat them — passing them before storing will remove their natural protective coating (called "wax").
Store Separately
Store them in a paper bag or use a container with a lid that says 'fruit' so no one mistakes your berries for their food.
Keep berries out of direct sunlight or heat sources like the stove/oven/microwave or even on top of the fridge, where they will get too hot and spoil faster than if stored somewhere else in the kitchen (like in a cupboard).
Keep Your Water Cold
When washing them (if you must), use cold water instead of warm or hot water because this will help protect their natural color and nutrients longer than if they were exposed to any heat source while being washed in water that's too warm/hot).
Remove them from their original packaging. Store berries in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag so they don't dry out or absorb moisture from the air around them.
Store berries in a separate container, and line that container with paper towels or newspaper. This will absorb extra moisture on the berries' surface (which can lead to mold).
Use a paper towel or cloth napkin to soak up extra moisture (both before and after washing).
Place paper towels on top of your berries when storing them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag so any excess moisture can wick away from the surface of your fruit instead of sitting on top of it and causing mold growth over time.
Store berries in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with paper towels so they don't touch each other or get squished together in the same container where they can mold easily!
Don't store fresh berries with dried fruits or nuts because they'll absorb moisture from those foods causing them to spoil faster than usual!
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