Last Updated on July 9, 2022 by
One of nature’s greatest signals that summer is coming is strawberries! Millions of acres of land produce these tasty and aromatic berries. Strawberries are a little red berry that is tasty, soft, and colorful. The surface of the delicious, aromatic fruit is covered with seeds. The strawberry plant, which often has white blossoms, produces strawberries grown near the ground. They thrive in relatively warm situations. So, How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge?
Strawberry shelf life is not very lengthy. In contrast, their shelf life is quite short compared to other fruits. Your fresh strawberries may last for days or even a week if you store them properly in the fridge.
How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge
The typical shelf life of a strawberry in the refrigerator is between five days and two weeks. The strawberries should be kept in an airtight container or a shallow container wrapped with plastic to extend shelf life. Additionally, the following actions should be taken:
- Pick a ceramic dish or container that has ventilation openings.
- Put a paper towel on the bottom and edges of the container you’ve selected to absorb any extra moisture that can harm your berries.
- Please put them in a plastic container that has been lined with paper towels to absorb moisture, label it, and place it in the refrigerator so other fruits won’t crush them.
How To Store Strawberries
Look for consistently red strawberries, relatively firm to the touch, and mold-free when selecting them at the groceries shop. If at all feasible, get a sample to ensure that the food is tasty (i.e., sweet). When you arrive home, keep the following in mind about strawberries:
- Beware of moldy ones. The ruined fruits should be removed from the bunch since mold spreads fast between fruits. Repeat the procedure daily, just as you would with blackberries, for optimal results.
- Keep the berries unaltered for as long as you can. It would be tempting to wash and trim the stems off each one, but you should only do it if you intend to consume them all on the same day. To extend their shelf life, leave them unwashed and with the stems.
- Make certain they won’t be trampled. Make sure nothing is pushing against them wherever you decide to place them. You must use caution since strawberries are readily pierced and squeezed.
Keeping them on the countertop is OK if you intend to consume them immediately on the same day you purchased them. In that respect, strawberries are comparable to cherries.
The refrigerator is the best option if they need to maintain quality until tomorrow or even a few days from now. There are no drawbacks to storing strawberries there since they are not sensitive to chilling temperatures.
Strawberries should be kept in the crisper drawer. To prevent them from being trampled by other vegetables in the container, if they are in a plastic bag, gently move them to a plastic container that may be lined with paper towels to absorb moisture.
How To Keep Strawberries Fresh
Method 1
Remove them from the container they came in, remove any moldy ones, and put them in a container lined with paper towels for a simple solution that will keep them fresh in the fridge for around a week. Never wash them. They will be more likely to get moldy if there is water present. Unless they were freshly harvested, there is no assurance that they will remain fresh for a week.
Method 2
Strawberries you buy at the grocery store are often delivered in refrigerated trucks after being packaged in the field. That might imply that they are already a week old when you buy them. So how can strawberries be preserved longer?
A vinegar wash is the greatest method for keeping strawberries fresh, whether you want to preserve them for a few days or two weeks. You won’t get strawberries that are rotting if you wait a few minutes. The strawberries taste as fresh as when plucked two weeks earlier because the vinegar destroys the mold spores.
For a vinegar wash, combine 5 1/2 cups of water with 1/2 cups of vinegar in a big basin. Leave the strawberry stems on and add the fruit whole. Place the strawberries in a single layer on a paper towel to dry for approximately 20 minutes after soaking for 5 minutes. When they are dry, stack them in a paper towel container, cover them, and chill.
Even two weeks later, you won’t believe how fresh they still taste. So you won’t be concerned if you can’t make jam or strawberry pie right away when you buy a large basket of produce at the farmer’s market. Without having to be concerned about them spoiling, you may take some for a snack or put them in lunches.
How To Store Cut Strawberries
You may use any of the above-storage techniques to keep sliced strawberries fresh if pre-cutting them before storing them is more convenient. They may also be carefully wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Just be aware that strawberries will lose their freshness more rapidly after being cleaned and chopped and typically only last for three to four days in the refrigerator.
How To Keep Strawberry Puree Fresh
Making fresh strawberry purée from leftover berries is a fantastic use for them. Use the purée as a drizzle over ice cream, cereal, or as part of a yogurt parfait after storing it in the fridge for three to five days in an airtight container. The purée may be frozen for up to three months. Simply leave the purée in the refrigerator overnight to defrost before using, or reheat in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds.
Can Strawberries Be Freezed?
Strawberries can certainly be frozen. Strawberries may be frozen in practically any condition, including whole, halved, sliced, and even crushed, unlike certain other foods. Pre-cut strawberries may be frozen cut-side down on a baking sheet coated with wax paper, which is perfect if you want to use them in anything from a delectable dessert to a nutritious smoothie.
The strawberries should be frozen for a few hours before being packed in an airtight container and returned to the freezer. When prepared in this way, frozen strawberries should remain edible for 10 to 12 months.
Simply transfer frozen strawberries to the refrigerator and let them sit there for at least six hours to defrost. Strawberries may also be defrosted by submerging them in cold water for at least 30 minutes or by putting them in a bowl within another dish of cold water. This process takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Just keep in mind that once thawed, strawberries will have a lot softer texture and a much darker appearance, so you may not want to use them to adorn a pie or cake with berries.
How To Freeze Strawberries
You’ve most likely purchased frozen strawberries more than once, so you know their viability. The whole procedure is quite simple. This is how it works:
Prep. After removing the stems, thoroughly washing them, and letting them dry, use paper towels to absorb any remaining water on the surface. Then, if desired, slice or cut the strawberries into halves. Whole strawberries are also acceptable.
They are frozen in time. Please pick up a baking sheet, and arrange the berries, so they are not touching one another. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and keep it there for the duration of the whole freezing process. Normally, I store it in the freezer for the night.
Frozen strawberries should be placed in a container or freezer bag. The additional coverage will aid in shielding the fruit from the heat. Additionally, freezing with a baking sheet is significantly less handy than using a freezer bag.
How Do You Know If Strawberries Have Gone Bad?
Many people are misinformed about the exact expiration date of strawberries. Soft strawberries don’t always imply they’re bad. These have lost their hard structure, but they are still suitable for sauces and smoothies. Here are some indications on when to throw away your strawberries.
Appearance
Bad strawberries will have a dark, dull red hue and may even have brown patches. The strawberry seeds will also seem dry and may come off. Naturally, mold-covered strawberries should also be thrown out right away. They cannot be saved at all! If they develop a few little spots, brush them off and use them right away in a smoothie.
Texture
Strawberries that are beyond their prime will have a sticky and mushy feel. However, squishy strawberries that don’t exhibit any of the aforementioned rotten indicators may still be utilized in sauces, jams, or smoothies.
Smell
Strawberries that are over their expiration date may smell something like vinegar. A delicious, sweet, and energizing scent will emanate from fresh strawberries.
Conclusion On How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge
Because they are a fragile fruit, strawberries do not stay long. If you are careful about storing strawberries, they may be kept and enjoyed for extended periods. Although many variables can affect the precise timing of how long strawberries last in the fridge, you can normally anticipate anywhere from 5-8 days.
