How to store strawberries in the refrigerator?

Few people don't love the taste of fresh strawberries. It is a pity that the berry is not stored for a long time, so people are constantly looking for recipes to keep it fresh as long as possible. In fact, with the advent of refrigerators, there are many more options for keeping strawberries fresh. We will talk about many of them in the article.

To keep fresh, ripe strawberries as they were picked from the garden, don't rinse them until you're ready to eat them. Wet berries spoil quickly. Don't keep one that is soft, dull, or wrinkled. If juice leaks, there are white or green spots on the surface, damage, it is better to throw it away.

The ideal temperature range for refrigerator storage is between 32 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Most refrigerators are set at or below 4°F. It is necessary to lay the berries in a closed container or a partially open plastic bag.

If you plan to cut the fruit and put it in the refrigerator, then rinse it first and remove the green stems with a clean knife. In the open form, such a product will stand for no more than two hours, then microorganisms will begin to develop in it. An airtight container or sealed plastic bag extends up to 3 days.

You can store strawberries longer by freezing them. Airtight storage containers or a plastic bag are best suited for this, where it can lie for up to 8 months. It is acceptable to use granulated sugar as a preservative, about 1/4 cup for every 1/2 cup of berries. Sweetened, cut strawberries stay fresh in the freezer for up to four months before their quality begins to decline.

Frozen berries are great for smoothies or for use in recipes where a soft texture is acceptable. It is worth remembering that the process of freezing and thawing destroys the cells, so this particular berry is soft and juicy.

The best way to freeze strawberries is to start by gently rinsing the berries under running water in a colander. It is not recommended to wash them in a bowl, since the fruits are small sponges that will quickly absorb additional moisture, resulting in tasteless strawberries.

When sealing, you will need to make sure that there is no moisture inside, however, as well as on berries. This is the only way to achieve the required level of compaction. Do not vacuum seal the berries because as the air is drawn out of the bag, the berries shrink and release juice. The result is crushed strawberries that are not very attractive.

If you properly vacuum a fruit bag, you can get perfectly preserved fruits, which can then be installed on a cake, make a cocktail, smoothie and much more.It is worth noting that it is vacuumization that prevents the formation of ice crystals, but you can do it differently - put the berries in sugar and freeze them in this form.

If there is no need to store whole strawberries, then you can mash them with sugar. Without using a blender, namely: mash with your hands, getting small pieces of berries. Puree is divided into containers and put in the freezer, where it takes the form of a container.

Some housewives pack in small plastic jars, and when the composition hardens, they pull it out and put such pieces of ice in a bag. A fresh berry is thawed quickly, after which it is a great addition to tea, ice cream, pie or a bun.

You can keep strawberries fresh by following the following recipe:

• first place the berries in a large bowl;
• fill the bowl with cool tap water to cover all the berries;
• add 1-2 cups of distilled white vinegar;
• hold the strawberries in the solution for 5-10 minutes;
• pour the berries into a colander; there is no need to rinse them;
• place the strawberries on dry paper towels and make sure they don't touch each other;
• let the fruits dry completely;
• place them in a clean container in the refrigerator.

It is impossible to say exactly how much strawberries are stored in the refrigerator. To a large extent, it all depends on the storage conditions and how ripe the berries were bought or harvested. At room temperature, it can be left only if the berries are eaten during the same day.

Before placing in the refrigerator, it is necessary to check each fruit and remove the bad ones, otherwise all the others will quickly become infected. Frozen, it can be consumed throughout the year, this is the period when the berry does not deteriorate and retains its beneficial properties.

Over time, culinary specialists and just housewives made several comments regarding what not to do if you want to keep the berries fresh longer:

• do not remove the stems, because due to their absence, the fruits begin to collapse faster;
• do not wash or soak strawberries;
• remove all damaged berries, since even one will spoil the entire container very quickly;
• do not cut the fruits, but store them whole.

If you strictly follow the freezing technology and do not wash the berries, then you can quite successfully store as many strawberries as you want in the freezer. Then in winter, wonderful compotes are obtained from it. The hostess is required not to be lazy and not to break the rules. Even a novice hostess can master any of the presented methods. There is nothing difficult in the process of preparing a berry, the main thing is not to put damaged fruits in a container.

For information on how to freeze and keep strawberries fresh, see the following video.