Summer berry season is precious and fleeting. It can be pricey, too, particularly if you’re buying good-quality organic berries. So it pays to take care of those beloved reds and blues.
Here’s how:
- Store berries loosely covered in a single layer in the refrigerator. Keeping them in their small, plastic “clamshell” containers is a good option as well since it allows for ventilation.
- Wait to wash berries until just before eating. If you’re just having a handful, only wash that handful. Most berries are porous and absorb water, which hastens the development of mold. They will last longer if you keep them dry.
- Wash berries by putting them into a colander and rinsing gently with water. A sink spray nozzle is ideal.
- Avoid piling a large amoung of berries into a deep bowl. They are delicate and will fare better in a shallow bowl so the ones on the bottom don’t get crushed.
Most berries only last a couple of days so use them up while you can. If your kids are anything like mine, this won’t be much of a problem. Berries in our house usually get gobbled up before I can even get them into the fridge.
Side note: Keep in mind that frozen berries, such as frozen raspberries and wild blueberries, are an excellent option too and measure up well nutritionally when compared to fresh
