It can be frustrating when strawberries begin spoiling after only a few days, but it turns out you may be storing these fruits the wrong way.
Most people keep their strawberries in their original plastic packaging from the supermarket, which is one of the worst places to store them as the container can become humid and warm, making it the ideal environment for mould.
Strawberries, as well as other berries, are largely made up of water and will begin going mouldy quickly as they have incredibly delicate skin which provides entry to mould spores once it is damaged or exposed to air.
It can seem impossible to keep strawberries fresh but Amy Cross, a cookbook author and founder of the money-saving food website The Cross Legacy, has shared there is an easy storage method that will keep your berries fresh for weeks.
All you need is a simple glass jar, which stops mould from reaching the strawberries as it acts as a barrier to stop exposure to air and moisture.
READ MORE: Foodies share ‘miracle’ storage tip to make lettuce last 14 days
How to keep strawberries fresh for three weeks longer
This method takes 10 minutes at most to prepare and will keep strawberries and other berries fresher for much longer.
All you need is:
- A gallon-sized glass jar with a lid
- Paper towels
- Colander
- 60ml of white vinegar
- Two litres of water
To begin, wash your strawberries in a large bowl to scrub off any excess dirt, as any bacteria will cause the berries to spoil quickly.
Then, pour the white vinegar and water into another bowl, set a timer and allow the strawberries to soak for only two minutes.
Amy said: “It is imperative that you only let these berries soak in the solution for two minutes. If you leave your strawberries in the water for any longer than this, they will start the fermentation process. At that point it won’t matter what you do with them, they will not last.”
DON’T MISS:
Preserve garlic with this ‘perfect’ and ‘ideal’ storage tip [REVEAL]
9 foods you should not store in the fridge as they ‘spoil faster’ [INSIGHT]
Spinach will keep fresh for ‘weeks later’ with easy storage method [LATEST]
Once the time is up, take the strawberries out of the solution and rinse them off in a colander. Then, place the strawberries on a clean towel to air dry for around three to dour hours.
According to Amy, the strawberries need to “be bone dry” for this storage method to work as any moisture will quickly led to them becoming mouldy.
When the strawberries are completely dry, place a paper towel at the bottom of a glass jar and then begin to carefully place the strawberries in the jar as well.
Then, place the strawberries in the fridge, and your strawberries will last much longer than they normally would.
Amy said: “Now you will have fresh strawberries in a jar to enjoy for the next three weeks!”
