2 weeks Ago By Shania King-Soyza
There's nothing more delicious than a perfectly ripe, juicy strawberry, but no matter how you store the fruit , it never seems to last past two days. Strawberries have a shelf life of three to seven days before they rot, reported Good Housekeeping . Fortunately, food site Simply Recipes reached out to nutrition experts to uncover the best method to increase storage life.
Before storing strawberries in the fridge, washing the berries is common practice. But this can increase moisture, which inevitably makes them grow mould faster. Frances Dillard, Vice President of Marketing at Driscoll’s said: "For best results, [we] recommend that you refrigerate your unwashed strawberries in their original container for up to five days.
"Always make sure you refrigerate your berries as soon as you can, and keep them as dry as possible", Dillard suggests. "It’s best to store them between 32°F and 34°F." Another step berry lovers should watch out for is location and packaging.
Nichole Dandrea-Russert , MS, RDN said: "Store strawberries in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer in its original plastic container or a reusable plastic bag that is slightly open, or with air holes, to maintain humidity. "Washing strawberries before storing them will add more moisture, which can cause early spoilage and make it a breeding medium for mould." The best way to preserve strawberries is to keep them as dry as possible until just before you’re ready to eat them.
When you’re ready to use them, rinse them under cool water with the leaves and stems still on, then pat dry with a paper towel. Berry experts at Driscoll's say to always check the “best used by” date on the package and watch out for the colouring of the strawberries. "Don’t eat strawberries that are discoloured with large green or white areas that have become soft, or if they are slimy or mouldy.
Don’t leave strawberries outside the refrigerator unless you’re snacking on them." "They should be refrigerated within two hours of washing and cutting them. Toss them in the compost bin if they’ve been sitting out longer than that," reported Simply Recipes.
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