One of the best parts of summer? All of those juicy fresh strawberries, which are at their peak in most parts of the country in June. Whether you just enjoy snacking on the ruby red fruit, blending them up into smoothies, using them for a crowd-pleasing no-bake dessert (looking at you, strawberry delight!), or baking a more traditional sweet treat, it’s important to wash and store fresh strawberries properly so that they don’t go bad too quickly.
Turns out that one household solution can be the thing that prevents your farm-fresh berries from growing mold too quickly. Here’s the one thing you should do to keep strawberries from going bad:
What Does Soaking Berries In Vinegar Do?
You probably know to wash your berries thoroughly before eating them since they’re one of the fruits that are most susceptible to pesticide residue, bugs, and dirt. Rinsing berries in cold water generally does a good job of removing most unsavory particles, but using a vinegar-based solution may actually help to preserve your berries for even longer.
Combine four parts of distilled white vinegar to one part water in a large bowl and submerge the fresh strawberries. Let the strawberries soak in the solution for about 20 minutes, then drain in a colander and rinse with cold water. Carefully pat the berries dry with a paper towel to remove any water droplets, then transfer the berries to an airtight container lined with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture and store in the refrigerator.
So why does this work? The vinegar kills off any bacteria and mold, which will help your berries to stay fresh for longer. If you’re worried that your berries will taste like vinegar, know that they won’t sit in the solution long enough to develop any strong acidic flavors. Plus, rinsing the berries in cold water after they’ve soaked will help to remove any traces of vinegar.
What Is the Best Way to Dry Berries?
One of the biggest culprits of berries that spoil prematurely is moisture—excess water can cause mold to form, so it’s very important to thoroughly dry your berries. The easiest, no-frills way to do this is arrange the berries in a single layer on a few sheets of absorbent paper towels, then pat them dry thoroughly until there is no water residue on the berries. For an added layer of protection, line an airtight container with more paper towels to absorb any excess moisture that you may have missed.
