How to store strawberries

What berry do you associate with summer? Many will answer without hesitation - strawberries. This delicious, fragrant, healthy berry is rightfully considered a symbol of summer, but unfortunately, we cannot enjoy its harvest as long as we would like. In order to prolong this pleasure as long as possible, and perhaps even for the whole year - until the next harvest, use the simple techniques indicated in this article and enjoy your favorite berry. In this article, you will learn how to properly store strawberries at home all year round, from preparing them to storing them directly.

How to prepare strawberries for storage: basic tips

If you buy berries for storage, then before buying, be sure to evaluate their freshness, the berries should not be soft, without mold and without any spots. If you find juice or pieces of pulp on the container in which your favorite berry is sold - such a berry is not suitable for storage, this is not a fresh crop.

On the counter, select only healthy, beautiful berries without deformation, with a stalk (the so-called tail), a high-quality, fresh crop always smells delicious, has a rich scarlet or burgundy hue.

Keep in mind that even one damaged strawberry can adversely affect all berries if rot or mold appears. Therefore, immediately after the purchase, we carefully sort out the berries, choosing only high-quality, healthy, not deformed, fresh specimens. Damaged berries should not be thrown away, if they have not become moldy and have not begun to rot, you can make delicious compote or jam, or some kind of dessert from them.

If you are planning to store your harvest, then you need to harvest it before the berries are overripe - they should be red, ripe, but not too soft.

If, nevertheless, you notice a large amount of damaged strawberries, then do not despair - vinegar will help in the fight against bacteria and rot. The most damaged berries are removed, and the rest are treated with a solution of vinegar and water (in a ratio of 3: 1). After processing, the berries must be dried well, for this they are laid out on paper napkins or a towel.

Where is the best place to store strawberries?

If you plan to store strawberries for no more than 3-4 days, then a refrigerator is suitable for this, in this case the berries are placed on a specially designated shelf for fruits and vegetables.

It is worth noting that before storing strawberries in the refrigerator, it is not recommended to wash them, since moisture can provoke the decay process, and as a result, mold appears. Therefore, it is highly recommended to wash strawberries before direct consumption.

But if the berry is wet without washing, then in this case you can treat it with water, after which it is imperative to dry it using wet wipes or towels.

Particular attention should be paid to the container in which it is planned to store strawberries in the refrigerator - it must allow air to circulate - cardboard, paper or plastic packaging with ventilation holes is ideal for this. If the berries are arranged in several layers, make sure that there is paper between the layers that absorbs unnecessary moisture, thereby protecting the strawberries from rotting.

What's the best way to store strawberries?

The most common way to store strawberries long-term is by using the freezer. When frozen, the berries retain their beneficial properties and taste for at least 1 year.

Strawberries are usually frozen in two ways:

• whole berries;
• processed into puree.

In order to store whole strawberries, care must be taken to ensure that the harvest is well dried beforehand, this will avoid sticking berries, as well as damage to their structure by ice crystals. Frozen wet strawberries will not retain their commercial properties when thawed.

In order to store strawberries with whole berries, you must perform a number of actions:

• rinse them, and then be sure to dry them thoroughly on paper towels or a towel;
• dry strawberries are laid out on a board or baking sheet at such a distance that the berries do not touch each other;
• the board / baking sheet is sent to the freezer until completely frozen;
• after the berries are frozen, they are transferred to containers (the most convenient and practical of all are packages, bags, containers), put into the freezer until they are consumed.

When defrosting, so that the strawberries do not turn into porridge, it is first recommended to transfer the berries from the freezer to the refrigerator and wait until it is all thawed. Do not defrost the berries with water or leaving them in the sun - the berry will lose its structure.

If the berries have been in the refrigerator for some time and may even have been slightly deformed, the best way to store such strawberries is to process them in puree and send them to the freezer. Before being sent for freezing, sugar can be added to the strawberry "porridge" if desired. It is recommended to store mashed potatoes in a plastic container.

As strawberry lovers note - they do not always "like" the frozen version of strawberry storage, but they really want to pamper themselves with their favorite berry, then conservation is a very popular way of processing. It can be various jams, sbitni, preserves, the recipes of which are passed on from our great-great-grandmothers, or even earlier. How not to indulge yourself with strawberry jam with pancakes or pancakes? Canned strawberries can be stored for 3 years.

For lovers of strawberries, and those who want to consume it all year round, there are no barriers to this. You can choose any convenient way for yourself of how and where to store strawberries, follow the simplest recommendations given in the article and enjoy the wonderful summer taste of strawberries, regardless of the season.

How and where to store strawberries correctly: a useful video