Old-fashioned Mason Jars Keep Strawberries Fresh
When the strawberries are coming in fast and thick, as they soon will be, those of us who get a CSA box often get more than one basket of berries. If you’re like me, you like to slowly savor them, adding a few to cereal or yogurt and nibbling a bit here and there. Doing this runs you the risk of having to throw out strawberries that have gone moldy, and there really isn’t anything more heartbreaking.
Here’s a trick almost nobody knows about that I found a couple years ago on Chowhound, and I’m happy to report that it works. People have reported keeping berries fresh for two weeks this way. For me, a week is plenty of time and this method has never failed me. Simply put your dry, unwashed strawberries in a glass mason jar and refrigerate. I’m not sure of the science, but I think it works because the strawberries are in an airtight environment so they don’t respirate and begin to decay.
Images: *clairity*, Vanessa Barrington
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6 Comments
March 28th, 2008 at 11:42 am
What a great tip! I’m so tired of throwing out my berries. I can probably use the jars I save from marinara dressing.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Great tip, but please be sure to always choose organic strawberries. The workers who grow them conventionally must be covered head-to-toe in protective garb to avoid contact with the pesticide laden plant or soil they’re grown in. And with their very soft flesh, no amount of washing will eliminate the residue that permeates the fruit.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Another tip that was passed on to me at the farmer’s market by an organic strawberry grower, is to layer paper towels in a lidded storage container. Place the unwashed strawberries in it, and cover them with another layer of paper towels. Close the container and refrigerate. The toweling will absorb moisture. Works every time up to ten days.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Everyone, Sydney’s paper towel trick really works. I learned to do this in order to save cucumbers from getting slimy when you only need to use half and want to save the remaining portion for a later salad or snack.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Great tip! I can’t say that I’ve ever had to throw out strawberries though — mine tend to get eaten on the way home from the farmer’s market…
May 16th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Thanks for the tip, Vanessa! I’m going strawberry picking this weekend and was wondering how I was going to keep all those freshly picked berries from going bad before I can get my mouth on them.
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