Recipes With Strawberries | Taste of Home (2024)

FAQs

What to do with fresh strawberries before they go bad? ›

Rinse with vinegar solution: Soak strawberries in a vinegar solution (one-part white vinegar and three parts water) for a few minutes. Then drain them, pat them dry, and place them on a clean paper towel in a glass container. Loosely place the lid on and store in the refrigerator.

Remove hulls from strawberries. Arrange in a single layer on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once the berries are frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe plastic bag or container and freeze up to a year. Use them frozen, or thaw before using if desired.

Soaking strawberries in salt water will help dislodge any hidden dirt or bugs. (Gross, we know.) That said, it's normal for there to be some earthy residue on the berries, but if you're particularly concerned about bugs, give them a soak in salt water.

Add 1 tsp. of baking soda to 4 cups of water, and soak your strawberries in a large bowl for five minutes. Then, rinse your strawberries with cold running water and pat them dry. Baking soda helps remove dirt, traces of pesticides, and more from fresh fruits and vegetables.

Strawberries will stay their freshest when dry and cold, and any added moisture will soften the strawberries and encourage mold growth. So instead of washing all of your berries right when you get home from the store, wash them as you plan to eat or prepare them.

You can technically do either, but it's a good idea to slice or at least halve the strawberries before you freeze them so they are easier to work with when you eventually use them. And no matter what you do, be sure to remove the green stems before freezing.

Since strawberries will begin to rot after a few days on the counter, if you plan to make your berries last for longer, they need to be in the refrigerator. Once they are stored, they'll last anywhere from five to seven days. This will preserve their freshness and keep them firm.

Where is the best place to store strawberries? Unless you plan to use the strawberries right away, it's best to store them in your refrigerator to preserve freshness. Unrefrigerated, berries will last only a few days; stored in the fridge, they could last up to a week.

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog's teeth as he or she eats them. Like all fruits, strawberries contain natural sugar, so offer them in moderation.

Should I thaw frozen strawberries before baking? ›

For best results in your baking, don't defrost the berries before use but instead toss them in flour. The flour will stop them sinking to the bottom of your mixture in the oven and can stop them bursting or their colour from bleeding.

If you need to thaw frozen foods quickly, place them in a sealable plastic bag and immerse them in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to ensure that it stays cold. When cooking thawed foods, cook them at a high temperature to help retain their texture.

Eating Unwashed Frozen Produce Is Generally Safe

The USDA states that eating packaged fruits and vegetables labeled as "pre-washed" or "ready-to-eat" without additional washing is safe.

Keep your fresh strawberries in the refrigerator for best results. If you're pressed for time and cannot wash and rinse them right away make sure to place unwashed berries in an airtight container lined with paper towels (this will help absorb any extra moisture) and keep them in the refrigerator for up to five days.

If you're pressed for time, simply storing the strawberries in their original container after discarding any that are on the brink of spoiling is a great option — but if you have extra time, soaking them in a vinegar-water solution and drying them afterwards is a great way to extend their shelf life.

The Bottom Line

To get the most life out of your berries, I suggest you: Keep them whole, keep them dry, keep them spaced out (if possible), keep them in the fridge, and keep them covered/in high humidity. That's the best you can do.