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!
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”.
OMG, I am definetly going to try this trick for making Strawberries last longer.. I am from Woodbridge, VA and I follow you all the time. Thank you for all your hars work on the deals. I appreciate it & you!
Good timing! I’ve been wondering this exact thing just this week. Thanks for the tips. Something I learned? You can regrow romaine lettuce from the cut end within a week. I’ve planted green onion cuttings but had no idea lettuce can grow that quickly. Haven’t tried it yet though. Reading from San Francisco.
I might just have to give this a try. My son (15 months) loves fruit and we tend to buy it at Costco which we throw some of it away but I like the idea of these containers. Would help us a ton. Hello from Santa Rosa, CA. Btw thank you for this. It’s really helpful!!
I typically wash and dry my strawberries and freeze them.. use them in a smoothie for later. Minneapolis, MN.
I recently learned that you can use regular dawn with the fancy foamer by just adding water. My husband was the one who showed me that. We’ve been washing our dishes with dawn I’ve gotten for free for almost two years!
Reading from coarsegold, ca
Yes! I love that tip! I do that with handsoap too! Your soap ends up lasting so much longer. 🙂 Thanks for sharing Courtney!
Thanks for the tips Me and my Family love Avocados and as you may know they turn dark right away (once opened)I just cut a lime and rub it again the avocado works great . Reading from NYC
Something I do at home is peel a potato and put it in the fridge to eliminate odors. It actually works especially when I forget to buy baking soda at the store. 🙂 Escondido, CA
If we have fruit or veggies that are starting to look a little sad, I’ll chop and freeze them for smoothies. I hate to waste food too!
that’s a good idea Jen! I will be adapting this too.
always wrap my cut up lettuce in paper towels from pittsburgh pa
This is an awesome giveaway, I had never heard of this before and cannot wait to try it. I recently went on a plant-based diet so I need ways to keep my fruits lasting longer. My favorite item hands down is my InstaPot. We have had one for 3 1/2 years and use it every day.
Hi Donna! Thanks for sharing! I have an InstaPot that I haven’t used it. Do you have any tips or resources or books/sites on finding recipes?
Hi Tina,
Anything that you can make in a slower cooker, you can make in an InstaPot. It takes less time. I have made a roast with veggies in 40 minutes. I have done frozen chicken in 40 minutes and it is so tender. I have made rice, etc. Mine came with a book. Google and you tube are great resources. I also joined group on Facebook.