British berry season is in full swing and will last right through until the end of September, though the same can’t be said for the shelf life of strawberries at home.
For households who manage to resist scoffing the whole punnet in one sitting, there is a surefire way to ensure the soft fruit remains delicious for more than just a day.
One of the most common methods on the internet involves dunking strawberries in a diluted vinegar solution, using white or malt vinegar.
This pantry ingredient is safe to consume and destroys harmful bacteria, so it’s perfect for bathing strawberries in to make them last longer.
According to food storage experts, it keeps strawberries “fresh, vibrant and firm” for an “entire week”.
How to make strawberries last longer
The vinegar solution should be made using one part vinegar with three parts cold, fresh tap water. Mix this in a bowl then add the strawberries and allow them to soak for a few minutes (no more than five).
Drain and dry the berries quickly after. Experts at Food52 suggested using a salad spinner lined with paper towels to remove almost all the water.
Once dried, transfer the strawberries into a clean container lined with a paper towel. Loosely place the lid on – do not seal it – and pop the container in the fridge.
The Kitchn team, who trialled this exact storage method claimed that “by the end of the week, practically none of the strawberries had gone bad”.
They added: “Not a single” strawberry was discarded and “the only noticeable spoilage was a few dark spots here and there”.
While this storage method takes time and effort, it ensures the “strawberries stay fresh, vibrant, and firm the entire week”, according to the Kitchn storage testers.
Of course, one thing to consider before testing storage hacks at home is how fresh the berries are to start with. When you’re browsing the supermarket shelves for strawberries, don’t just grab the first punnet you see, instead give the fruit a good look over and check that none of them are starting to mush or spoil.
Before soaking them in vinegar, carefully pluck out any berries that are looking worse for wear – save them for smoothies if they’re just a bit soft.
As for the best containers to keep strawberries in, the original packaging will do as long as you sort the berries before placing them in the fridge.
Simply soak and dry the fruit as normal and lay some paper towels on the bottom of the empty container. Swap out the paper towels every day or two to ward off moisture.
