Recipes With Strawberries | Taste of Home (2024)

FAQs

What to do with fresh strawberries before they go bad? ›

Rinse with vinegar solution: Soak strawberries in a vinegar solution (one-part white vinegar and three parts water) for a few minutes. Then drain them, pat them dry, and place them on a clean paper towel in a glass container. Loosely place the lid on and store in the refrigerator.

In general, frozen strawberries tend to be softer and slightly mushier than fresh strawberries once they're thawed, but to get the best texture possible, avoid using overripe strawberries, dry your strawberries thoroughly after washing them to prevent too much moisture, and be sure to freeze your berries in a single ...

The sweet fruit shines when chopped up and tossed over a fresh summer salad or as a cake garnish, but it's also delicious when frozen and blended as a refreshing drink or combined with sugar to make syrupy sauce.

A mixture of vinegar and water can destroy harmful bacteria and kill off mold spores on the strawberries. Vinegar gives berries a thorough cleaning and can get rid of any dirt or little bugs that may be on them. Soaking your berries in vinegar won't affect how they taste.

Where is the best place to store strawberries? Unless you plan to use the strawberries right away, it's best to store them in your refrigerator to preserve freshness. Unrefrigerated, berries will last only a few days; stored in the fridge, they could last up to a week.

Place your unwashed strawberries on top in a single layer, then cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use, ideally within seven days. If you notice one of the strawberries going bad or turning moldy, immediately remove it and discard.

What's more, washed berries stay mold-free for several days longer than their unwashed counterparts.” So go ahead and wash those berries. You'll be doing them (and yourself!) a favor by allowing them to stay fresher for longer.

So be sure to wash the berries before you freeze them, but not too early.

Methods of Freezing Strawberries

For whole berries: Freeze the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet to keep them from getting stuck together. Once they're solid, transfer the berries to a container, such as FreezerWare™, or a zip freezer bag such as Glad® Freezer Zipper Gallon Bags.

Whether you freeze the berries whole or slice them first is entirely up to you—they'll freeze well either way. Freezing the berries whole gives you more options for how to use the berries once they're thawed. You can choose to slice them, dice them or mash them depending on the recipe.

Is it better to freeze strawberries with or without sugar? ›

Strawberries frozen without sugar will keep, but may lose some of their flavor, texture, and color. However, unsweetened packs are desirable for sugar-free diets and for making jams later. Here're some suggestions that have worked for us.

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. “Dogs can eat strawberries in moderation,” says Dr. Jennifer Power, D.V.M., senior veterinarian at Small Door Vet, a chain of veterinary facilities in the Northeast. “They are a safe and healthy treat for most dogs due to their low-calorie and high-nutrient content.”

There are two types of wild strawberries: True wild strawberries, and Indian Strawberries, also called mock or false strawberries. Mock strawberries are not poisonous, but they don't have any flavor to speak of. Wild strawberries are delicious, and taste just like the strawberries you'd pick in your garden.

Arrange the berries in a shallow container, separating out any damaged berries. Cover them loosely, and keep at 35 degrees for best results. Do not remove the caps or wash the berries until you are ready to use them. When caps are removed before use, the berries lose some of their moisture.

Keep your fresh strawberries in the refrigerator for best results. If you're pressed for time and cannot wash and rinse them right away make sure to place unwashed berries in an airtight container lined with paper towels (this will help absorb any extra moisture) and keep them in the refrigerator for up to five days.

The Bottom Line

To get the most life out of your berries, I suggest you: Keep them whole, keep them dry, keep them spaced out (if possible), keep them in the fridge, and keep them covered/in high humidity. That's the best you can do.

If you're pressed for time, simply storing the strawberries in their original container after discarding any that are on the brink of spoiling is a great option — but if you have extra time, soaking them in a vinegar-water solution and drying them afterwards is a great way to extend their shelf life.