Strawberries as well as many other berries are known to spoil only days after being bought, which means they have to be eaten quickly otherwise they will go mushy or even mouldy.
However, it turns out many people are making the mistake of keeping their berries in the plastic packaging they come in at the supermarket, which is one of the worst ways to store them.
Berries have a high moisture content which is what causes them to begin spoiling quickly, and storing them in a sealed plastic container can make them too humid which is how they begin growing mould.
Nancy Birtwhisle, a cooking expert known for winning The Great British Bake Off has shared in her The Green Gardening Handbook the best way to store your fruit in the fridge.
She said: “Soft fruits like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries can be expensive when not in season and a small punnet, once opened, even if kept in the fridge, will start to show signs of deterioration after just two days.
“This little tip can extend the shelf life of your fruits for up to two weeks and beyond. “
READ MORE: Lettuce will stay crisp and fresh for three weeks with cook’s genius storage tip
Instructions
Place 10g of citric acid in a large bowl and then add 60ml of boiling water. Alternatively, you can also add 70ml of lemon juice or white vinegar.
Swirl the mixture until it dissolves and the liquid looks clear, then add 400ml of cold water.
Wash the berries in the solution in batches by swirling them around using a slotted spoon. Then, remove the berries and place them in a sieve or colander to drain.
Nancy said: “Your berries are now cleaned and prepped for a longer, fresher life. There’s no need to wash them again before using them.
“Strawberries with leaves still attached will keep fresher for longer. Leaves should only be removed just before use. Just like with tomatoes, they will keep longer with leaves and stalks in place.
Place the berries in a container of your choice. It is recommended to use a glass container as makes it easier to see how fresh the berries are but this is optional.
Put the container in the fridge and your berries should keep fresher for up to two weeks but sometimes longer.
