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When it comes to snacking in the summer, nothing tastes quite as refreshing as a handful of fresh berries.
Just about every household is stocked with as many strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries as the refrigerator can possibly hold once the weather starts heating up.
As sweet and delicious as fresh berries are, they tend to go bad fast. We’re talking mushy, moldy, watery—basically, inedible.
If you feel like you’re often forced to throw away tons of spoiled berries every summer, you’re not alone.
To help you make your berries last longer, All You put together a simple list of different ways to keep them fresh:
- Try a vinegar rinse: To extend the life of strawberries for a few extra days, The Krazy Coupon Lady suggests making your own vinegar rinse. After mixing three parts water with one part vinegar, soak your strawberries in this solution for about 5-10 minutes. Do NOT rinse the vinegar off of the berries. Simply drain then in a strainer and leave them out until they dry completely. Wash, dry, and reuse the breathable container they came in, and place the dry berries back inside. If done right, your strawberries should not taste like vinegar at all and the solution will protect them against mold for a few extra days.
- Spray with citrus: All You reader Claudia M. suggests spraying fresh berries with lemon juice to kill mold and help retain the flavor. She also likes to freeze berries in small batches for later.
- Use the right container: According to All You reader Janie M., all fruit stays extra fresh when stored inside a Tupperware Green container. She also suggests waiting to rinse until right before you plan to eat them, since water is what gives most berries that mushy taste.
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- Make sure the berries are dry: Again, moisture is a berry’s worse enemy, so keeping your container bone dry is essential to making berries last longer. All You reader Becky C. also suggests putting your berries inside a Debbie Meyer Green Container after they’ve been washed and dried.
Which of these tips helped you the most? Tell us in the comments!
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