Recipes With Strawberries | Taste of Home (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak strawberries in salt water? ›

Soaking strawberries in salt water will help dislodge any hidden dirt or bugs. (Gross, we know.) That said, it's normal for there to be some earthy residue on the berries, but if you're particularly concerned about bugs, give them a soak in salt water.

Where is the best place to store strawberries? Unless you plan to use the strawberries right away, it's best to store them in your refrigerator to preserve freshness. Unrefrigerated, berries will last only a few days; stored in the fridge, they could last up to a week.

Even if the berries are from your backyard, they may have residue from any pesticides you use, soil, and even bugs. So be sure to wash the berries before you freeze them, but not too early. Strawberries will begin to break down and turn mushy after being washed.

Strawberries will stay their freshest when dry and cold, and any added moisture will soften the strawberries and encourage mold growth. So instead of washing all of your berries right when you get home from the store, wash them as you plan to eat or prepare them.

“Depending on the freshness of strawberries when purchased—which is the biggest factor in how long your berries stay fresh—they're typically best within 3 days when stored in the refrigerator in a shallow container. But I have kept them for up to one week in a glass jar,” Blanchard confirms.

Just know that once strawberries are washed and cut, they will deteriorate more quickly than whole, unwashed berries, and generally only last three to four days in the refrigerator.

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog's teeth as he or she eats them. Like all fruits, strawberries contain natural sugar, so offer them in moderation.

Keep Them Whole

Tearing off leaves or stems and especially hulling the strawberries will expose the mold-prone juicy flesh to air and bacteria, speeding up the rotting process.

Methods of Freezing Strawberries

For whole berries: Freeze the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet to keep them from getting stuck together. Once they're solid, transfer the berries to a container, such as FreezerWare™, or a zip freezer bag such as Glad® Freezer Zipper Gallon Bags.

There are a few different ways to freeze strawberries. Our favorite method involves flash-freezing them whole or halved. It also makes sense to freeze them in the form you plan to use them; whole berries are difficult to slice when frozen and like boulders in the blender.

Is it better to freeze strawberries with sugar or without? ›

Strawberries frozen without sugar will keep, but may lose some of their flavor, texture, and color. However, unsweetened packs are desirable for sugar-free diets and for making jams later. Here're some suggestions that have worked for us.

Freezing, drying, and making jams and jellies are some of the best ways to preserve strawberries. Select firm, fully ripe, red berries, preferably with a slightly tart flavor. Wash and sort berries according to the method described under “Washing Strawberries” above, and remove the caps.

The Bottom Line

To get the most life out of your berries, I suggest you: Keep them whole, keep them dry, keep them spaced out (if possible), keep them in the fridge, and keep them covered/in high humidity. That's the best you can do.

One U-pick customer will generally pick 1to 3 flats (5 lbs. each) per hour depending on the amount of berries in the field, size of the berries, and their speed. Smaller berries take longer to pick.