Produce Storage Test
One of the things I absolutely HATE is tossing expensive produce because it goes bad before I eat it. I don't know about you, but despite my best efforts, this happens to me all the time, especially with strawberries! I love having fresh fruit on hand. If it's cut up and ready, I will totally eat it, and it's way healthier than what I might otherwise grab that's quick and easy.
Far too often I end up tossing berries that have gone bad before I cut them up and eat them. I have scoured the internet for the best ways to wash and store strawberries. I decided to conduct a little experiment and test four different storage methods. Keep reading, or check out the video here to see my (very scientific) results!
Washing the Berries
The most widely accepted way to wash your berries to help them last longer is using some white vinegar in the water. There's a very specific way I found to do this:
- Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to 10 cups water.
- Soak berries for exactly 2 minutes– any longer, and they will start to ferment.
- Rinse the berries with cold water.
- Lay berries out on towels to dry. They must be completely dry before storing!
I used this method to wash before storing any of the berries in the containers. I let my berries dry for six hours on towels. I'm in the midwest in the winter, so there isn't much humidity in the house. Although they didn't feel super dry to the touch, I'm not sure I could have gotten them any more dry than they were.
Storage Methods Tested
- Tupperware produce storage bins– These have a little slide that you can move to allow or restrict airflow. There are little pictures on the container to help you know where the slide should be. For strawberries, it needs to be completely closed.
- Containers with a Drain Tray– These have sliders just like the Tupperware containers. It also has a little drainage area where moisture can fall so the berries aren't sitting in any water.
- Debbie Meyer Green Bags— I found these bags on Amazon. They're supposedly treated with a mineral that helps reduce the gases that are released with decaying produce.
- Mason Jars– This is a widely accepted method that supposedly helps berries last longer. I am supposed to put a little paper towel in the bottom to help collect moisture.
The Method
In order to really give it a good test, I used two containers of each kind. In one I put whole berries, and in the other I put sliced berries. If I'm going to actually reach for them and easily eat them, I need them to be cut up and ready to eat. However, it wasn't clear whether cutting them up reduces their shelf life or not. But I wanted to find out!
The Results
I checked in on my berries daily. Here's how things turned out:
- Day 3– still completely edible across the board. There is some condensation happening. Things are looking good in all containers!
- Day 4– Some berries might be a tiny bit shriveled. There are a couple of soft spots but nothing major. They're really about all the same. They're all still edible, but they are degrading a bit.
- Day 5– About the same as the day prior, maybe a little worse.
- Day 6– This is where things started to take a bad turn. There are soft spots in all containers. I don't see mold, but they're to the point where I wouldn't really want to eat them. They just kinda gross me out, LOL! However, cutting them up doesn't seem to have much of an effect on their longevity.
- Day 9– And now they are all bad. I see more mold on the whole berries, but honestly I think that's just because it's harder to notice on the cut up berries. Everything is turning dark and soft. I definitely wouldn't eat any of these!
The Conclusion
Well, this is a bit anticlimactic. I don't think any of the storage methods made a bit of difference. I suppose this is good and bad. Unfortunately, I don't have any great method to extend the life of my berries. However, it also means I can store them any way I want or that fits better in my fridge.
I will say that I'm glad to know that cutting them up ahead of time doesn't seem to affect how long they last. This means I might as well wash and prep them for eating as soon as I get them home! And I can store them ready-to-eat so I'm more likely to grab them instead of a less healthy snack.
If I want to always have strawberries on hand, I'll probably need to buy them once or twice a week. Or, I can buy strawberries along with longer lasting fruits like grapes or blueberries and just eat the strawberries first.
Why didn't anything make a difference?
Well, the short answer is I don't know, LOL! I do live in the midwest, where we just don't have a great climate for growing berries. So this means they're almost always shipped from fairly far away. This affects their freshness of course. Your geography probably makes the most difference in how long your berries last. I would guess that if you're in California, your berries will last longer than mine!
At least this was a learning experience for me. If anyone has any better method for getting strawberries to last longer, I am all ears! Please drop a comment and let me know if I”m missing some great strawberry storage hack!
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Heather Walker Says
My best method is not washing them until I am ready to eat them, right then. I only take out the portion my family will eat at that time. I also place a paper towel or small dish cloth in the container (for almost all my produce) to absorb the excess moisture as soon as possible when I get them home. This will help it last for about a week and they won’t be gross yet. I am very picky about what I purchase in the first place. I will look at every package on display. I also don’t care how good a sale is, if they start out with brown spots, I’ll end up throwing most of it away.
Megan Says
I had always heard that it’s best not to wash berries until you are ready to eat them, since introducing moisture will just make them get moldy faster. I also have tended to toss berries in the freezer if they are really ripe and I’m not likely to eat them all right away. In this case, it is a good idea to wash them and cut them first, then they are ready to eat as a frozen snack or toss into a smoothie.
Gale Says
Laura, I rinse mine, slice and put them into a container. I place a folded paper towel on top and flip the container upside down and place in the fridge. This has made all my berries last the longest. For strawberries, I tend to change the paper towel out after a couple days and put a new one in. Give it a try.
Diane Says
I’m from Florida, we might be the strawberry capital of the U.S. I don’t know. But Fresh from Florida says don’t wash your berries until you are ready to eat them. I keep them in the fridge in the container I bought them in. They will hold for a week. we quickly wash, rinse and dry them before we eat or pack in a lunch box. Once they start getting over ripe or breaking down, I wash them then cut the tops off and slice the berries into a bowl. sprinkle a heaping cereal spoon of white sugar over them, cover and let stand for 30 minutes. You have a delish topping for yogurt, angel food cake, or eat them alone.
Debi Says
From Indiana – do not wash before storing. Wash when you are ready to eat or pack them.
Lisa Says
Tupperware instructions say not to Wash before storing. I Don’T know if it would make a difference, however
Christy H Says
Strawberries will last a long time in mason jars BUT you can’t wash them first! And you can’t put any strawberries in the jar that are too ripe. I know not washing them kind of defeats your desire to have them ready to eat, but they really will last a long time that way and you aren’t throwing food away.
Amy Says
I’ve recently been on the same mission. I’ve found success with strawberries lasting 2 weeks in a mason jar. Here’s how I learned to do it : put a dry paper towel in the jar and then add unwashed strawberries (with their stems still attached). Put another dry paper towel on top and then seal and place in tbe fridge. I’m in Florida and have been doing this method with both strawberries and blueberries and they each last 2 weeks. I do be sure to store them shortly after I’ve bought them. I hope this helps! It may not save prep time since you wash and cut them just before use but it does help them last longer than usual.
Karen Crist Says
NEVER WASH ANY BERRIES before you are ready to eat them. That being said. Always buy the freshest berries you can from your mot reputable source. Always refrigerate them immediately. Pick them over if necessary to remove any suspect berries. Paper towels above and below will help, just like with tender greens and cucumbers. But probably, most importantly, just buy the berries when you’re going to eat them. They aren’t carrots or cabbage. They aren’t going to last. Plan your menus accordingly. I never had a problem in my house. My youngest would eat them by the basket if they were in the house. They never had time to go bad.
Christina Says
I don’t wash the berries before putting them in the mason jars. I actually dump them on a paper towel right when I get home from the store and let them air dry a while, then lightly dry them off as I put them in the jar. Technically you should wipe out condensation daily in any of the methods you tested, but who has time for that?
Gloria Doran Says
I don’t wash the berries until I’m ready to
use them and they keep a week or so..
Trudy Says
I agree with both commenters – never wash strawberries before you store them. I also keep them in the original container in the fridge, BUT I just came across this tip which works wonders. Fold a paper towel and put on top of the berries. Close the lid, then store them upside down. The holes at the bottom of the container (which is now the top) provide for air flow to keep the berries fresher longer. (Usually 2 weeks for me). The paper towel absorbs any moisture the berries may have from being rinsed during processing. Replace the paper towel every couple of days. This method works for many other berries and salad greens that come in plastic containers with air holes . Seriously a game changer for not wasting food!
Laura Says
I live in Central California & I think I Googled
how to keep your berries fresh & this is the method
I learned:
Soak berries in a vinegar/water bath… honestly
I can’t remember how much water they said to use
so I just take my big old Tupperware bowl and I fill it
3/4 of the way with water and add a big splash
of vinegar, let them soak for 15 minutes, rinse them,
and pat them dry. I then rinse & dry the container they came
In and line it with 2 paper towels that are still attached to each other, one on the bottom & one on the top. I have had my berries last 10 days using this method numerous times. 🙂