Urgent warning to anybody who has purchased strawberries and blueberries in ‘final 24 hours’
Strawberries and blueberries often go mouldy within days, but cookbook author Danielle Walker says washing them in vinegar water and storing with paper towels can extend their freshness for up to 10 days
The correct way to store your blueberries and strawberries, thank you very much (Image: Getty)
Homeowners have been urged to take their strawberries and blueberries out of the supermarket packaging… or risk getting mouldy fruit. No time like the present, either… berries are known to decompose within 24-hours of being bought.
There’s nothing quite like savouring fresh strawberries and blueberries for breakfast, whether you enjoy them with yoghurt or sprinkled over a hearty stack of pancakes. However, these berries are infamous for spoiling within days of purchase, and there’s nothing more off-putting than nearly biting into mouldy, fuzzy fruit.
You might assume it’s logical to store berries in the supermarket packaging they come in, but plastic tends to trap moisture inside the container, encouraging mould spores and bacteria. Berries naturally release moisture, and if this water can’t evaporate, it can cause strawberries and blueberries to start rotting and turn into a mushy mess.
Danielle Walker, a cookbook author and founder of Against All Grain, says keeping berries fresh is a quick five to 10-minute task – all you need to do is wash them and use a paper towel.
She clarified: “It’s simple really: just give them a quick bath in a vinegar and water solution the moment you get them home, dry them, and place them in a clean container lined with paper towels.”
Berries tend to spoil quickly due to moisture and exposure to mould spores, but taking a few minutes to store them properly can prolong their freshness by almost two weeks.
Vinegar helps prevent berries from spoiling as it’s naturally antibacterial and will kill any spores that might already be hiding in a strawberry or blueberry container.
Kitchen roll might appear straightforward, but it’s the ultimate tool for keeping berries fresh as it absorbs any excess moisture from the fruit and removes any condensation.
The trick to extending their lifespan is keeping berries away from plastic and as moisture-free as possible, enabling you to enjoy loads of fresh fruit this spring without binning any of your weekly shop.
Danielle revealed: “This method can make them last as long as 10 days in our house! Voilà, that is how you keep berries fresh longer.”
How to store strawberries and blueberries properly
Begin by filling a large mixing bowl with cold water, then mix in two tablespoons of vinegar. White vinegar works best for washing berries, although apple cider vinegar does the trick as well.
These vinegars won’t change the taste of the berries when watered down, unlike other varieties such as balsamic or red wine, which are far too strong and will leave the berries with a nasty aftertaste.
Let the berries soak for at least five minutes, but don’t leave them for longer than 10 minutes. A quick soak will cleanse them properly, but prolonged soaking can harm their delicate skin and make them soggy.
Once the time’s finished, drain the berries in a colander and dab them dry with kitchen roll. Make sure they’re totally dry before storing them in the fridge.
Cover the bottom of a food storage container with some kitchen roll, then pop in your berries. Skip the lid entirely; just lay kitchen roll over the top instead.
Storing berries without a lid enables more moisture to escape from the container, keeping them as dry as you can manage. Replace the paper towel on top when it looks damp, and the berries should remain fresh for 10 days or longer.
Once the time is up, drain the berries using a colander before dabbing them dry with paper towels. Make sure they’re completely dry before putting them in the fridge.
Place several paper towels inside a food storage container, then add your berries. Don’t cover with a lid; just lay paper towels on top instead.
Storing berries without a lid enables more moisture to escape from the container, keeping them as dry as you can manage. Replace the paper towel on top when it looks damp, and the berries should remain fresh for 10 days or longer.
