How to Store Fresh Picked Strawberries

We are so lucky to live near a beautiful farm where you can pick your own strawberries. And there is nothing tastier in the summer than a bowl of freshly picked strawberries, so if you are lucky to find a farm where you can pick your own, take advantage of it!

But how awful is it when you get those awesome berries home and toss them into the fridge until one day you reach in looking for those strawberries and and they are covered in mold!

Learn how to store those fresh picked strawberries properly!

Strawberries are quick to mold and don’t last long, so take good care of your little berries and they will last a few extra days.

Remember that store-bought strawberries only last for a few days and need to be cleaned and sliced the day you bring them home. Eat them up quickly because they don’t last long. Strawberries from the grocery store have probably already traveled a few days before arriving at the store.

In fact, don’t even put them in your refrigerator until they have been cleaned and sliced and ready to eat.

How to Store Fresh Picked Strawberries

If you do need to store those luscious little freshly picked berries for a day or two, don’t wash them or cut them. Keep them in an airy container in your crisper drawer until ready to use. When you are ready to use your strawberries, follow the directions below. Here are the “airy” container we use for our fruits and vegetables that need air –> [easyazon_link identifier=”B01FCR7MYM” locale=”US” tag=”dinnerd06-20″]Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver Food Storage Containers.

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Or, if you just want a few strawberries, wash the ones you want to eat and leave the rest alone. Water baths are not a strawberries friend so only wash them as needed.

Caring For Your Fresh Strawberries when You Are Ready to Eat Them:

1. Place all your strawberries in a colander and spray gently with water to remove any debris.
2. Let strawberries drip dry in the colander.
3. Pat with a paper towel to make sure they are dry.
4. Slice the top green crowns off using a sharp knife or a pairing knife.
5. Slice a small amount of the bottom tip off the strawberry.
6. Slice the strawberries and put in a clean container that has a tight fitting lid.
7. Sprinkle strawberry slices lightly with sugar and cover.
8. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Fresh Strawberry Hints and Tips

• Try to buy Organic Strawberries if you can.
• If you notice any mold on a strawberry, remove it from the bunch.  Mold can spread quickly but removing the moldy ones will help to save the rest of the bunch.
• If you decide not to eat the strawberries, wash the berries and then remove the tops.  Slice berries and let dry on a paper towel. Toss strawberries with a small amount of sugar. Lay the berries on a small cookie sheet and put in the freezer. When the strawberries are frozen just toss into a freezer bag and seal. Yum, toss the frozen strawberries in your smoothies or defrost to use on pancakes or in a desert.

What to Do with Fresh Picked Strawberries

• Eat them with morning cereal or oatmeal
• Have a small bowl of strawberries & feta cheese with your scrambled eggs.
• Toss them in your morning smoothie.
• Chop them up and add them to your home-made muffins.
• Make Strawberry Pretzel Salad.
• Find an easy strawberry jam recipe.
• Add them to your tossed salad with blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
• Strawberry Shortcake!
• Add them to your jello salad.
• Eat them in a bowl topped with fresh whipped cream.
• Make a flavored strawberry water
• Blend a healthy strawberry margarita using freshly picked strawberries!