Strawberries are popping up in the stores like mad lately…and for actually affordable prices. Berries aren’t like apples and oranges, though, they go bad a lot faster, so getting them to last a little longer can be a huge money saver.
Here’s what I do to get my berries to last longer: I give them a little soak in a vinegar bath. It’s one cup vinegar to 3 cups water. It will kill any spores that might be on the berries and buy you some time. Once they’ve soaked, I line my salad spinner with paper towels {to protect the berries} and give them a light spin to dry them a bit. Finally, I put them in a container in the fridge {also lined with paper towel to absorb any remaining moisture} and leave the lid cracked a bit to get circulation to the berries.
It seriously extends how long they keep, which is good, because if I have to buy Costco-sized containers {fingers crossed that the ones I froze before we moved will last us until I can get my strawberry and raspberry patch established}, we won’t be able to go through them fast enough…though, with The Girl’s smoothie addiction, I may end up eating my words. Literally.
~Mavis
Karin says
Hi Mavis! was wondering if the berries had a vinegar taste to them after soaking, and also, do you do this for all your fruits and veggies?
Leanna says
Karin,
I have been doing this for years. I usually just fill up my sink with water and dump some vinegar in. My berries do not taste like vinegar but my hands smell like it for a while.
Karin says
Thanks, Leanna!
Leigh says
I do this for all my berries and grapes (20 min soak ). Started mixing in baking soda and lemon juice too… It’s gross to see the water after. I let mine dry completely on towel lined baking sheets before putting in fridge. They last a full week.
Chelsea says
What salad spinner do you have? I’ve never had the cabinet space to store one but we’re in the process of buying a house and moving. The new kitchen has tons of room! If I were only going to use a salad to rinse my homegrown baby kale I probably wouldn’t bother, but this seems like a great way to turn a uni-tasker into a multi-tasker. Maybe you should write up a post on salad spinner uses?