Ah, summer is here, and it’s a season brimming with life and deliciousness!
As we transition from spring to summer, the harvest season kicks into high gear.
And let’s be honest, one of the most delightful treats of summer has to be those succulent, red strawberries.
Good news, folks! Farmers have spilled the beans on how to keep your strawberries fresher for a longer time.
Once you get the hang of this, you’ll never have to endure the disappointment of biting into a less-than-perfect strawberry ever again!
Among the plethora of fruits and treats that Mother Nature graces us with during this season, strawberries are the crown jewel.
But let’s face it, they’re also notoriously difficult to keep fresh post-harvest.
Why, you ask? Well, strawberries are ground-dwellers by nature, making them an easy target for slugs and other critters.
Plus, their ground-level lifestyle makes them vulnerable to diseases, bacteria, and fungi lurking in the soil.
So, when you rinse them, you’re only getting rid of the surface dust, leaving behind the real culprits that can ruin your berry experience.
We’ve all been there—reaching for a strawberry, only to discover it’s turned into a mushy, rotted mess overnight.
Heartbreaking, isn’t it? This unfortunate transformation can be attributed to the bacteria and fungi that survive the initial rinse.
But don’t fret! You can actually disinfect your strawberries during the cleaning process to extend their freshness.
Prepping for this life-changing cleaning process is simpler than you might think. All you need are some kitchen essentials:
A large bowl or bucket
A strainer, colander, or salad spinner
Vinegar
Clean or filtered water
Paper towels
A container with breathing holes
And of course, a bunch of delicious strawberries
First things first, place your strawberries in a large bowl.
You’ll want to make sure the bowl is big enough to accommodate both the berries and the cleaning solution.
Next, mix one part vinegar to five parts water.
For example, if you’re washing a couple of pounds of strawberries, you’ll need one cup of vinegar and five cups of water.
Once your mixture is ready, pour it over the strawberries, making sure they’re all submerged.
Don’t worry if some strawberries float to the top; it’s completely fine.
You can either weigh them down with a small plate or give them a good stir every now and then.
The key here is to let them soak for at least 3 to 5 minutes.
Vinegar is a powerful natural disinfectant that will penetrate the strawberries and eliminate any lingering threats, ensuring your harvest remains scrumptious.
After the soaking session, it’s time to drain the berries. Use your colander or salad spinner to get rid of the excess water.
Shake or spin them as much as you can to get them as dry as possible.
Remember, moisture is the enemy here; it speeds up the decay process by creating a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.
Once you’ve drained most of the water, spread your strawberries out on clean kitchen towels and let them air-dry.
Make sure they’re bone-dry before storing them.
On a sunny summer day, this should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes.
While they’re drying, grab a clean container with breathing holes and line it with paper towels to absorb any residual moisture.
Finally, once your strawberries are completely dry, transfer them to the prepared container and pop it in the fridge.
If you’re a recycling champ, you can even reuse the container your strawberries originally came in—just make sure to disinfect it first.
Thanks to this farmer-approved technique, you’ll be relishing fresh, delectable strawberries for days on end.
So go ahead, enjoy your midnight snack raids with confidence!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
