Strawberries are one of those fruits that people love to buy because they look pretty and taste delicious. But what happens once you’ve bought them? How long does it take for them to go bad? And what can you do to prolong their shelf life?
Strawberries are one of those fruits that we like to purchase because they’re in season, but it seems like they always go bad too quickly. You’ve probably seen people throwing out perfectly good berries just because they’ve gone rotten.
But there are ways to keep strawberries fresh in the refrigerator without having to throw away perfectly good fruit. Read on to find out!
Health Benefits of Strawberries
Strawberry season is upon us once again, and it’s never too early to start enjoying this sweet fruit. While there are plenty of ways to eat strawberries, here are some reasons why you should make sure to add them to your diet each week.
1. Lower Blood Pressure
Strawberries contain high levels of anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants that work to prevent damage to arteries and veins. This helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In fact, one study found that people who ate about half a cup of strawberries daily had a 25% reduction in their risk of developing hypertension.
2. Increase Good Cholesterol
The same antioxidant compounds in strawberries that keep blood vessels healthy also boost HDL cholesterol levels. A recent study showed that eating just three servings of strawberries per week could raise HDL cholesterol by 8%.
3. Fight Cancer
Antioxidants such as those found in strawberries have been shown to fight off certain types of cancer cells. One study found that women who consumed strawberry extracts every day for six months experienced a 50% decrease in breast tumor growth.
How Long Do Strawberries Last
Strawberries last about a day on the countertop. They tend to lose flavor faster if kept at room temperature, but if you put them into the refrigerator, they’ll last up to seven days. Some varieties don’t do well in cold temperatures, while others thrive in colder environments.
If you want to eat them sooner rather than later, it’s best to freeze them. Freezing preserves the taste and texture of strawberries very well. You can even freeze strawberries whole.
How Can You Tell If Strawberries Are Bad?
Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits you can find in grocery stores. They come in many different varieties, ranging from sweet strawberries to tart ones. But how do you know whether those berries are safe to eat? Here are some tips to help you identify good strawberries and avoid buying rotten ones.
1. Look For Bruises
If you see any bruising on the skin of the strawberry, it could mean that the berry has been exposed to air for too long. This causes the skin to turn dark brown. If you see any bruising on the strawberries, discard them.
2. Check The Color
The best way to check the color of strawberries is to hold them up to the light. You want to make sure that the red inside the berry is bright and vibrant. If the red is duller, the berry might be overripe or even rotten.
3. Smell
You can also smell strawberries to determine if they are ripe. Fresh strawberries should have a strong scent. If there is no odor, the berry might have gone bad.
How To Store Strawberries
Like many other fruits, they must be stored properly to ensure maximum quality and taste. There are some things you need to know about how to store strawberries. If you want to keep your strawberries longer, here are some tips.
Fresh Strawberries
The best way to preserve the flavor and texture of fresh strawberries is to refrigerate them immediately after buying them. You can even freeze them, but it’s better to use them quickly.
Frozen Strawberries
If you don’t plan to consume your strawberries right away, freezing them is a great option. Just make sure to freeze them whole, without cutting them into pieces. This way, they will retain their color.
Dried Strawberries
Another option is drying strawberries. It works very well for preserving berries that have already been harvested. Simply wash the strawberries thoroughly, then spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Dry them at room temperature until completely dry. The process takes anywhere from 3-7 days depending on the weather conditions.
How Long Do Strawberries Last When Cooked?
Strawberries are delicious and nutritious fruits. They’re often used in desserts and baked goods, but you can eat them raw too. If you want to know how long strawberries last when cooked, it turns out there isn’t much consensus among experts. Some say they’ll keep for about three days, while others claim they won’t last longer than five days.
The USDA says that “fresh strawberries will usually remain edible for up to 5 days after harvest.” However, the agency cautions that some berries may begin to spoil sooner because they’ve been picked prematurely. This could happen if the fruit is harvested before it reaches full maturity.
In addition, the FDA warns that “strawberry juice is generally safe to drink immediately after production, but should be refrigerated within 2 hours of opening.”
How To Keep The Strawberries Fresh
- A quick method that will keep the strawberries fresh in the refrigerator for up to seven days is to remove them from their containers and put them in a container with a paper towel. You can use this technique for blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc. Keep in mind not to wash them. If you do, water will increase the likelihood that mold will develop.
- If you’ve ever bought a bunch of strawberries and wondered how long they’ll keep fresh, it turns out that there are several ways to store them — some work better than others. Most people tried different methods but the best way to store strawberries is to soak them in a vinegar-based solution. This simple step keeps the fruit fresher longer because it preserves the natural acidity of the berries. It takes a few minutes, but it won’t result in moldy strawberries. Vinegar kills mold spores, so strawberries taste as fresh as if they were picked two weeks later. For the vinegar wash, fill a large bowl with about 5 ½ cups of water, add 1/2 cup of the vinegar, and add the whole strawberries, Soak for five minutes, rinse, and place them in a paper towel to let them dry for about 20 minutes, cover and refrigerate.
How Long Can You Keep Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Chocolate-covered strawberries are one of those foods that people love to eat but hate to throw out. They’re delicious, and it seems like every party host has a stash of them somewhere in the kitchen. But what if, you want to save some for later?
One Day At Room Temperature
Chocolate-covered strawberries can be stored at room temperature for about a day. This approach is ideal because it retains a stronger strawberry flavor than any other method. However, it also means that the strawberries spoil quickly.
48 Hours In The Refrigerator
If stored properly, chocolate-coated strawberries can be kept in the refrigerator for several days, but ideally should be eaten within 48 hours. Cover with wax paper and store in an airtight container to keep the fruit from rotting.
Refrigerating chocolate-covered strawberries will cause them to lose some of their fresh flavors, but strawberries will last longer.
Up To 3 Months In The Freezer
Freezing chocolate-covered strawberries are great for saving for later or as a small snack every day. To freeze them, place them about 1 inch apart on a sheet of foil until they harden. This will keep them from sticking together. Once it’s solidly frozen, you can put it in a freezer container.
Why Strawberries Mold So Quickly
Mold can start growing very rapidly – that’s because there are mold spores in the air all over the place. As soon as mold spores come into contact with a warm and moist environment they multiply quickly. Strawberries also soak up water easily, making them ideal breeding grounds for mold.
And that mold can spread throughout a whole basket of berries really fast – causing strawberries to deteriorate within just 48 hours of picking. Strawberries are one of the most perishable fruits around. They’re also very sensitive to light, heat, and humidity. All of those factors make them go bad much quicker than other fruits.
Will One Moldy Strawberry Ruin The Rest?
Yes, because it can spoil a whole batch of berries. If you’re buying berries at a farmers market, ask the seller how many days ago the berries were picked. Berries that are too old won’t ripen properly and might even rot. You’ll know if a strawberry is moldy just by looking at it. Look for mold on the outside of the fruit.
Can We Eat Moldy Strawberries?
Never eat strawberries that you know are moldy. Mold is a microscopic fungus, and the spots you see on the fruit are spores that grow from the mold. These mold spots may look like white, discolored spots. Moldy strawberries are usually mushy and also have a foul odor.
Mold can contain toxins that can cause health problems. Moldy fruit can also be contaminated with bacteria. Strawberries have a lot of moisture, it can be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.