I’m trying this new series of articles on Fridays called “Favorite Things Friday” where I will be sharing some of my favorite things, products, life tips, in hopes that you might find it useful in some way for your family. Please let me know in the comments if you would like to see more articles like this. I’m experimenting with this for the next few weeks. If you would like to see more articles like this, I can keep this series going.  To go along with these Friday articles, I’ll also include a Giveaway!
My kids love strawberries and blueberries. One of the biggest frustrations I have with strawberries is that they rot so quickly in the fridge. So much so that I started avoiding buying Organic Strawberries, since they tend to go bad even faster. Often, I’ll check back after 2-3 days of buying them, and the entire pack is moldy and needs to be thrown away. I hate wasting food! (Really, I hate wasting anything that I paid for with hard earned money.)
Let me document some tips and products I found helpful in helping to keep strawberries fresh for longer (and other produce too).
How to Keep Strawberries Fresh for Longer
Here are some tips that I’ve learned on how to keep strawberries last longer than the usual 2-3 days. The key to keeping strawberries fresh is to keep them stored clean and dry.
1. Wash Right Away with Vinegar
Once I get home from the grocery store, I wash the Strawberries before they go in the fridge. Mold spores on the fruits are what makes them go bad quickly.
I wash my strawberries with Apple Cider Vinegar and water mix. You can do this in a big bowl or a salad spinner. Leave it soaking for a few minutes. The vinegar solution helps to remove spores and bacteria on the fruit, thus extending their life.
I typically add about 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to a bowl of water. But you can use regular Vinegar as well. Some people add more vinegar for their wash solution (ie. 1 cup vinegar for 3 cups of water), in which case you’ll have to rinse extra well.
2. Dry Your Strawberries
Drying your berries is the next important step. You can get rid of excess water by spinning it a few times in a salad spinner. AND/OR drying it with a soft cloth or paper towel.
You can also air dry them in a colander, but with so many things going on, I’m afraid I’ll forget about the drying berries on the counter overnight (lol), so I don’t do this.
3. Storing Your Strawberries for Freshness
The quick and cheapest solution (what I used to use) for storage is to line the plastic containers (they came in) with paper towels and put the berries back in the containers.
And then a few months ago, there was a deal we posted on these Rubbermaid FreshWorks containers. I got a set to try and have been hooked ever since!Â
There’s a little perforated tray in the bottom of the container to keep produce from soaking in any condensation and moisture. And the lid has little “holes” in it to allow air flow in and out of the container.
I’ve since purchased a few more of these from Target (with the food storage category coupon), and I use it with all my fruit that needs washing.
One tip I found to be helpful is to wash all your fruits and veggies in one sitting. Then dry and store. It’ll save you time in the long run instead of washing one item as you need it. Plus, it’s so much more convenient to use, without the additional friction of needing to wash fruits. In the mornings, I love pulling out my green and white containers of already washed fruits and packing my kid’s lunches. SO Nice!
Giveaway Time! Win a Set of FreshWorks for FREE
To make it fun, I’m gonna include a Giveaway to go with these Favorite Things Friday articles every Friday. Check back every Friday for more of my Favorite Things.
For today’s giveaway, I’m giving away the 3-Piece set of FreshWorks Produce Saver Food Storage Containers to 4 Readers. This giveaway starts on Friday 8/24 and will end on Monday 8/27. Winners will be announced on this blog only on Tuesday 8/28 before 12pm PST. You’ll have 48 hours to claim your prize.
To enter in this giveaway: leave a comment below with a useful tip you use at home or something you recently learned or tell me about one of your favorite products. And tell me where you’re reading from (city and state). Let me know by leaving a comment on this post.
This post is NOT sponsored by anyone. I just really love this product and wanted to share my experience. All prizes are paid for by myself.
 Do You Have a Favorite Product or Life Tip? Want to be published in a future “Favorite Things Friday”? Shoot me an email with your write up and pictures. If I accept your submission and publish your tip, I’ll also send you a $50 Gift Card to the store of your choice. Send email to tina@FreeStuffFinder.com with subject “Favorite Things Friday Tip”.
Wrap the top of the bananas in plastic wrap to slow down the ripening process.
reading from Las Vegas, NV
I learned how to make my fruits last longer, I usually will end up throwing them away because no one at home eats them and just go bad quick. Itâs just a waste of money and itâs an endless cycle till now!! Thank you Tina for the tip!
This really is an awesome article! I am defiinitely going to try. I am so sick of throwing away fresh produce.
Hi From Houston Texas and as a mom a tip Iâve learned is to get the diaper bag prepared every night especially with snacks and toys. You never know when you need to rush out the door .
One of my favorite products is my air popcorn popper. Once my family tried one, we could never go back to microwave. It tastes so much better and it really doesn’t take any longer or much effort. Jolly time kernels, move over butter, and sea salt is my favorite combination.
I’m from the Kansas City area in Missouri. Im grateful for this article because I absolutely LOVE strawberries and HATE that I can’t seem to keep them for more than a couple days. It’s so frustrating! Ill have to try your tips and perhaps these containers as well. I wonder though, does the vinegar leave a taste on the berries?
Los Angeles,California hi something I think was very useful are the things to organize my kids clothes . Before it was hard to have my kids clothes in order. So with your idea of doing your kids I took your advice. It was 100% great idea. So I organized my kids my husband and my stuff also. My mom came over and I showed her your idea and she loved it also. Thank you so much
Hello from madera California
I love your tips! Thatâs one problem Iâve faced is defeating the fruit going back too quickly problem as effectively as
Possible! I unpack groceries and access what fruits I can store together/ same with veggies
I read somewhere once certain fruits and vegetables next to one another actually can cause the fruit next to it to ripen or spoil faster
So. Washing and scrub brush is important for me as well! Same vinegar wash
We recently invested in silicone mat liners found on amazon that are said to aid in preserving shelf life of produce as well
Ruda and absorbs excess moisture and easy to clean up
You can cut them to desired size to fit in shelves as well. A neat organized effective tool that also comes in a variety of colors and makes a upgrade of cuteness and color to inside your fridge
Iâm also working on our home being more zero waste so I am looking for other options around plastic that can help us effectively at home while still not dumping as much trash as we have in the past. I try to reuse the berry containers as well and am inching our way to less
Thanks for doing this awesome giveaway since finding your account a little over 2 weeks ago Iâve utilized And shared so many of your finds with loved ones
Trying to make our dollars âstretchâ âşď¸
Kindly
Noemi
Favorite product is Persil laundry detergent – original. No overpowering scent, just that clean fresh smell and does its job. Love it even more when getting a great deal with target offer and coupons! Following you on Instagram from Fort Worth, TX.
I discovered these fresh works containers a couple of
Months ago! I loveeee that my broccoli lasts
Longer in there! Also thank you for the vinegar
Tip I will try it!
A useful tip I always clean out my fridge before grocery shopping to get a good idea of whatâs missing, whatâs expired and what I need for an upcoming dinner! Writing from Modesto, Ca!