KEEP YOUR BERRIES FRESH!
This week I thought I’d do something different. Instead of a recipe, I’m here with a quick lesson on how to store strawberries. These beautiful fruits are so good for you, but they lose nutrients very easily. They also spoil quickly.
Yes, berries are temperamental, but treat them right and they will reward you with vitamin The fiber, vitamins and minerals in strawberries (actually, in types of berries), make them a very healthy food. However, what makes them a superfood, is the phytonutrients. These are ingredients that give the plants their color, taste and smell. They also protect plants from pests, disease and severe weather. These phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants, helping to strengthen the immune system, heal and prevent heart conditions, create a strong nervous system, protect against cancer, heal the skin and eyes, and so much more.
Back to storing these beauties:
* Dry, dry, dry! Berries (like many other plant foods) are porous, meaning they soak up liquid. When berries get wet, they begin to soak up liquid. The longer they are allowed to sit around in damp conditions, the more water they will absorb. This creates a mushy, slimy berry. Yuck! Line an airtight food storage container with a clean dishtowel or papertowl and add unwashed berries, removing any that are weepy, smashed or moldy,as well as any leaves or stems (but don’t core the berries). Cover and store in your produce drawer for up to two days.
* Do not wash strawberries until the moment you want to use them. Strawberries are highly perishable and should be stored (unwashed).
* When you are ready to use your berries, gently rinse them with cool water and quickly cut out the core at the stem end. Pat them dry if necessary and use immediately.
* If you cannot use the berries within a couple days, place the container in the freezer for up to six months.
Next week: Stay tuned for my trick on making supermarket berries taste better!
In the meantime, have fun with these strawberry resources:
* Berries: The Complete Guide to Cooking With Power-Packed Berries (Sterling Publishers), by Stephanie Pedersen
* Homegrown Berries: Successfully Grow Your Own Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, and More (Timber Press Growing Guide), by Teri Chace
* Organic June-Bearing Strawberry Plants
* Mr. Stacky 5-Tier Strawberry Planter
* Strawberry Huller
* The prettiest strawberry necklace ever!
* Freeze-dried strawberries for snacking. Yum!
* Chef’n Bramble Berry Basket and Colander
