The sweet fruit strawberry is a favorite to many. Have you ever wondered how long do strawberries last? In season, strawberries are usually a guilt-free snack or treat you can purchase at the neighborhood grocery shop.
Picking fresh strawberries at your neighborhood strawberry patch is an excellent family adventure.
In our article, you will find answers to your curiosity about how long do strawberries last. You will also learn how to choose the tastiest strawberries and store them for short and long periods. So keep reading!
Also read: Are Strawberry Perennial or Annual Plants?
You can choose the best approach by learning to properly store your sliced strawberries and uncut berries in the fridge, freezer, and on the counter at room temperature.
It depends on when you intend to consume strawberries to preserve their color, shape, delectable sweetness, and incredible nutritional and health advantages.
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What are the health benefits of strawberries?
Ripe strawberries are delicious and versatile in dishes and offer our bodies some health advantages that you shouldn’t overlook.
The antioxidants in strawberries can help your body fight cancer and benefit overall heart health.
Strawberries can also lower your blood pressure and raise your good (HDL) cholesterol.
It includes a wealth of minerals, vitamins (such as vitamins C and B9), and fiber. Moreso, strawberries are a good source of manganese, potassium, and folate.
How long do strawberries last at room temperature?
At room temperature, strawberries don’t last very long.
Strawberries can be kept in their original packaging on the countertop at room temperature if you intend to use them that day or in the next few days.
Strawberries are a particularly perishable product; therefore, you must store them in the refrigerator or some other kind of storage if you don’t want to risk spoiling them.
How long do strawberries last in the fridge?
If you intend to utilize your fresh strawberries within the next week or so, storing the ripe berries in the refrigerator is the best option.
I suggest removing the rotten strawberries from your jar of strawberries before properly storing them to prevent contamination of the remaining berries.
Then, if feasible, pat them dry to remove extra moisture before storing them in a single layer or a maximum of two layers in a different container.
To help absorb any moisture or fluids that the strawberries may release, line the bottom of the container, if at all possible, with paper towels. Frequently replace these towels.
Refrigerate them after loosely wrapping the container in plastic wrap. Regardless of the container you select, ensure enough ventilation and that the berries have enough breathing space.
A well-kept strawberry should be able to stay for about seven days in the fridge.
It will vary based on the age of the strawberries when you originally got them and the type of storage they were in (if relevant) before you got them.
Alternatively, you might use a vinegar wash to extend the life of the strawberries.
Because vinegar kills mold spores and keeps fruit fresher for longer, putting fresh fruit through a vinegar solution helps prevent strawberries from molding immediately.
In the freezer, how long do strawberries last?
The freezer is your best choice for making your strawberries last longer.
If you want to freeze them, dry them off with towels before arranging the strawberries on a baking or cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
For the next three to four hours, freeze the baking sheet.
It’s crucial because any liquid on the berries will freeze as ice after freezing, turning the frozen berries squishy or watery when you attempt to defrost them later.
When the berries are completely frozen, take the tray from the freezer and, for long-term storage, put the individual strawberries in a freezer-safe jar or freezer-safe zip-top bag.
In the freezer, strawberries have an approximate shelf life of one year; beyond that, freezer burn sets in. Vacuum sealing them is one of the best ways to prevent that.
Also noteworthy is that strawberries can be frozen whole, sliced, crushed, and with or without sugar.
General strawberry storing tips
• Ensure that the container you use to store your ripe, fresh strawberries allows for adequate airflow so that the strawberries can breathe.
• After purchasing strawberries, remove the smashed, moldy, squishy, or otherwise unpalatable from the package as soon as you arrive home to prevent damage to the other berries.
I also suggest putting all of your berries dry and, when you first go through the container, rinsing them off any extra liquids or water that may have been on them from the storage space you got them.
• Save washing strawberries until right before using them. The decaying process will go faster if you put them in the water.
When feasible, you should store your berries whole and uncut. Strawberries have a shorter shelf life after being cut.
• To prevent them from becoming stacked on top of one another, take the berries from the original container and put them in a different deep container whenever possible.
• If it’s strawberry season and you plucked your berries at a patch and kept them in a plastic shopping bag while selecting, move them as soon as you get home to a better container.
• Discard any berries that start to rot as soon as you detect them.
• The crisper drawer in the fridge is the best place to keep strawberries because storing strawberries is at a relatively low temperature (32°F to 36°F) and a high humidity level.
How do you pick ripe strawberries?
When you choose ripe strawberries, you may immediately enjoy the wonderfully sweet, delicious strawberries.
Once harvested and separated from the stem, strawberries stop ripening.
To acquire the most delectable berries possible, only select the ripe strawberries while picking them directly from the strawberry patch.
The following are some features of ripe strawberries:
• Ripe Strawberries should be a great, rich crimson color from tip to the area under the green caps. There should not be any white.
• The berries’ crowns and the stem should be an intense shade of green.
• Try to avoid collecting strawberries fruited from a strawberry plant that appears sickly or is beginning to die.
• Avoid picking strawberries that surround subpar strawberries.
Even while the strawberries look good, they will not persist for very long because it has probably already begun to transfer the germs and other things that trigger the decaying process.
• If at all possible, keep away from strawberry containers that contain any smashed or rotten ones when selecting strawberries at the grocery store or farmer’s market.
• Choose medium-sized strawberries over those with a lot of white or pink coloration if you want the sweetest strawberries possible.
How do you know if strawberries are rotten?
Strawberries will exhibit some indications, just like all other fresh fruits, once they are no longer safe to consume.
Observe these signs to determine whether to discard your strawberries:
1. Blemishes
Fresh strawberries should be pure red and free of defects.
It is a sign that the strawberries are beginning to ripen if you find any odd black patches or other flaws.
You could still be able to consume the fruit, given how quickly you notice these.
2. Sour Smell Or Taste
The aroma or flavor of your strawberries will quickly reveal whether it is fit for consumption.
Good strawberries will smell and taste sweet and delicious.
Fruit that smells strongly of sourness or tastes bitter or acidic has probably gone rotten and is not suitable for consumption. Throw it out right away.
3. Mold
Strawberries, significantly those left at room temperature, can quickly develop mold.
Mold spores are constantly present in the air, and once it finds a warm, moist environment, it settles there and quickly reproduce.
Strawberries are also well known for readily absorbing moisture, making them the ideal setting for mold growth.
It is unsafe to eat berries that have mold on them. It is preferable to throw away the fruit if its exterior exhibits white patches or grayish, hairy growth.
4. Soft Texture
A firm touch will indicate that strawberries are still good. The fruit begins to soften as it ripens.
A strawberry that is only slightly firm should still be edible. You should discard any fruit if it feels mushy and soggy since that indicates it has gone rotten.
5. Bugs
Bugs drawn to strawberries are those that are past their peak.
Your strawberries may rot and are unsuitable for consumption if you spot worms, a swarm of fruit flies, or any other unusual insect activity.
Conclusion
How long do strawberries last? Strawberries lose their freshness quickly. However, you can delay the rotting process and extend the life of the fruit by refrigerating or freezing it.
Before eating the fruit, look for indications of deterioration. It is not safe to eat strawberries if you spot mold or feel a change in texture.
Read next: Are Strawberry Perennial or Annual Plants?