Washing Strawberries with Vinegar to Keep them Fresh Longer

Fresh strawberries taste great, but sometimes go bad before you can enjoy them all. Learn how to wash strawberries with vinegar to keep them fresh longer.

Once strawberry season comes around, it can be difficult to use them up fast enough before they go bad. A quick and easy solution to lengthen the life of strawberries is to wash them with a vinegar mixture. Following these simple tricks will keep strawberries lasting longer.

Washing Strawberries With Vinegar

The best way to maintain strawberry’s freshness is to wash them with a vinegar bath. Vinegar’s acidity keeps bacteria and mold from forming on your berries, which will lengthen their lifespan. Here’s how:

You’ll need:

• Bowl
• Vinegar
• Water
• Fresh Strawberries
• Measuring cups
• Storage container with lid
• Towels/paper towels

Method:

1. Place the fresh whole strawberries in the bowl. 
2. Mix together one cup vinegar and three cups water and cover the berries in the mixture. Let sit for about 10 minutes.
3. Rinse the strawberries to remove any traces of vinegar flavor. Dry them using a paper towel or, for more sustainable practices, use a paper towel alternative. 
4. Line the storage container with a towel and place the strawberries in the storage container with a lid. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy within five days.

Note: Cutting the strawberries will actually shorten their lifespan.

Other Washing Methods for Strawberries

Although the vinegar bath will maintain strawberry’s lifespan the longest, you can follow one of these other methods if you prefer.

1. Wash with cold water right before you eat them. You shouldn’t wash strawberries until you’re ready to eat them. Using cold water, run them under the stream for a few seconds and drain them. Then dry them before eating.
2. Salt wash: an alternative to a vinegar bath, a salt wash can maintain strawberry freshness. Mix together a one teaspoon of salt ratio to every one cup of water. Soak the strawberries in the salt mixture for at least five minutes. Rinse the berries and dry them with a towel.
3. Baking soda wash: similar to the salt rinse, you can mix together 1 teaspoon of baking soda to every four cups of water and rinse the berries in the mixture for about five minutes. Then rinse, and dry the berries before eating.

How Long Do Fresh Strawberries Last?

The length of strawberries’ lifespan depends on the storage and cleaning method used:

1. Vinegar bath: if kept in the refrigerator, strawberries rinsed with vinegar and stored in an airtight container will last anywhere from five to seven days.
2. Salt or Baking Soda: if kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container, this method will keep your strawberries fresh for about seven days.
3. Simple rinse: if you have just washed your strawberries with cold water and placed them in the refrigerator uncut they will last up to three days.
4. Countertop storage: if you have left your strawberries unwashed on the countertop, they will last about one to two days. Always remember to rinse them before use, and it is recommended to refrigerate them if you plan to eat them longer than one day ahead.

To ensure the longest life of your strawberries, keep the following tips in mind: 

• Wash right before eating: washing the strawberries adds too much moisture into the berry and can spoil them faster. Only wash them right before you’re reading to enjoy them.
• Keep them whole: whole berries last longer than cut strawberries, so don’t cut them down unless you’re planning to eat, cook, or bake with them right away.
• Utilize the refrigerator: regardless of which method you follow, place strawberries inside the refrigerator to maintain their freshness longer. This will help keep them from getting too moist and will save their freshness until you are ready to use them.

Read more:

• How to Grow Strawberries Indoors: A Simple Guide
• Elderberries: How to Find, Collect, and Use Them
• How to Store Blueberries to Keep them Fresh

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Tags: Food Guide Practical Tips