How to make strawberries last longer is a post that puts 2 popular Pinterest methods to the test. See which kept strawberries fresh for 3 weeks!
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The Best Way to Store Strawberries
Strawberry season is here! To kick it off, I did a little experiment. For the past month, I have taken strawberries and tested different methods to make them last longer in the refrigerator. There was one clear winner. Today, I’m sharing my results with you in this post!
Recently, strawberries were on sale at my local grocery store. Scratch that. They were a steal at $0.88 for a 1-pound container! You better believe I stocked up on 14 pounds (yes, pounds).
I have big plans for these berries:
- Easy Strawberry Syrup
- Strawberry Pizza with Bacon
- Strawberry Smoothie
- Pound Cake with Fresh Strawberry Topping
- Strawberry Cream Cake
I know that I have to pace myself so I don’t overload my family with strawberries, and that’s where this experiment comes in. As a side note, this would be a fabulous science fair project or experiment to do with kids!
How to Keep Strawberries Fresh
Will strawberries keep longer when kept in their original container, in a glass jar, or treated with a vinegar wash when stored in the refrigerator over a 3-week period? Basically, what is the best way to store strawberries?
I researched two popular methods on Pinterest for keeping strawberries fresh. I used strawberries stored in their original container as the control group. I then gave some berries a Vinegar Wash and stored them in the refrigerator in an open container on top of paper towels. For the third and final group, I stored unwashed strawberries using the Glass Jar Method. This is where unwashed strawberries are kept in an air-tight glass canning jar.
Storing Strawberries Hypotheses
If I treat strawberries with a vinegar wash, they will:
- A- Keep longer in the refrigerator than berries kept in a glass jar or their original container.
- B- Not keep longer in the refrigerator than berries kept in a glass jar but keep longer than berries in their original container.
Best Way to Store Strawberries: The experiment
I used berries from the same 1-pound plastic clamshell to test the two variables and the control. The berries varied in size and were generally of the same ripeness. I discarded any berries that had begun to spoil.
Variable 1:
Berries were simply placed in a glass jar, unwashed, and placed in the coldest part of the refrigerator.
Variable 2:
Berries were placed in a vinegar wash:
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 5 cups of water
They sat in the vinegar wash for 5 minutes. Then I drained them and gently patted them dry with paper towels. Finally, I placed them in a paper towel-lined bowl and left them uncovered in the coldest part of the refrigerator.
Control:
Berries were kept in the original packaging, unwashed, and placed in the coldest part of the refrigerator.
Storing Strawberries: Week 1 data
After one week, I placed all the berries side-by-side and compared them.
- Original Container: A little shriveled, but very much still edible.
- Vinegar Wash: They look nearly perfect. They have ever so slightly started to shrivel, but they’re perfectly fine.
- Glass Jar: They look just as good as the day they went into the jar.
Best Way to Store Strawberries: Week 2 data
- Original Container: Severe shriveling has set in. At this point, these berries are only good for making jam.
- Vinegar Wash: The berries have started to shrivel significantly. While they aren’t the prettiest berries, they are still ok to eat.
- Glass Jar: These berries are still plump and have yet to shrivel. However, I have noticed that they have lost some of their vibrant red color.
How to Keep Strawberries Fresh: Week 3 data
- Original Container: Shriveling has continued even more. I do not recommend eating these berries.
- Vinegar Wash: Shriveling has gotten to the point where these berries would only be good for making jam.
- Glass Jar: These berries are still plump and juicy, but they have lost some more of their vibrant red color. Most of the berries taste fine, but a couple have a fermented taste to them.
Best Way to Store Strawberries: The Results!
Glass Jar Method:
The berries look almost the same as they did three weeks ago. The stems and leaves are still bushy and green. They are plump and have not started to shrivel. They taste good, with a few having a slight fermentation taste. This method is suitable for storing strawberries in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Vinegar Wash:
The berries look okay. They’re starting to shrivel quite a bit, and the stems and leaves are beginning to dry out. They taste fine, but they’re not at all pleasing to the eye. The vinegar wash is a good method for keeping strawberries for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Control – Original Container:
The berries have seen better days. By week three, they’ve shriveled significantly and are inedible, while some strawberries are starting to mold. The stems and leaves have dried out, and the strawberries have a taste that is overripe. This is an acceptable method of storing strawberries for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Conclusion: The Best Way to Store Strawberries
The glass jar method is the clear winner. Strawberries that last three weeks in the refrigerator are a total win! You can keep these berries in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. The vinegar wash method is fine for 1-2 weeks, and the original container is best for one week.
How To Store Strawberries
- Do not remove the stem, and do not wash the strawberries before storing them.
- Use a clean glass jar that’s been washed and dried thoroughly. It needs to have a tight-fitting lid. I like using large mason jars. Large jars, like pickle jars, are perfect for larger quantities of strawberries, too.
- Discard any spoiled or bruised fruit. Do not put the spoiled ones in the jar with the other strawberries.
- Place the jar in the coldest part of your refrigerator.
- Using this method, the strawberries will not get moldy. However, they will start to ferment. They may seem fine, but they aren’t edible if you leave them too long in the refrigerator.
***NOTE: The results will vary depending on the ripeness of the fruit when placed in the jar, the refrigerator temperature, etc.
FAQs on Storing Strawberries
Strawberries can be left unrefrigerated after being cut for up to two hours. After two hours, they should be put in the fridge to stay fresh and safe to eat.
However, if you have not cut or washed them, they can sit at room temperature for up to two days. However, storing them at room temperature will not stay fresh for as long as they will by storing them in a glass container in the fridge.
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I just had a clamshell of strawberries given to me so this article is perfect. Thank you so much for doing the testing, taking the pictures and the post. GREAT JOB! I love your site.
I tried this and mine were in the frig for over two weeks. They looked perfect, however they either all fermented in the jar (I did not taste them before I washed them as usual in the vinegar bath) or they soaked up the vinegar in the bath. They tasted like wine and/or vinegar.
I did not open the jar during storage til I wanted to use them.
I keep my strawberries in a glass jar and yes you can take them out as needed. I take strawberries out daily for my daughter’s breakfast or lunch. I buy the big package of strawberries which fills 2 quart and 1 pint jars without throwing any away.
I want to buy this kind of strawberries. Never ever in over 60 years have I seen berries last a week in the original package. I feel fortunate if they don’t start going nasty on the way home from the store. Even when using a vinegar water bath, completely dry, stored between paper towels, it is pushing it to last 24 hours.
I’m curious. Did you open the glass jar and take any out in between times? I want to keep them but also use them.
Thanks
You can definitely take strawberries out of the jar. For the experiment, I didn’t.
I’m thinking “how well will the strawberries keep if washed in the vinegar bath, drained and dried, and then stored in the glass mason jar?” I thought perhaps I could do this and let you know, but I have serious doubts as the whether ANY strawberries will last using any method because I cannot resist eating every strawberry in my house! I grew up in eastern North Carolina with strawberry farms all over the place. I now live in Minnesota. Enough said?