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”.
I cut my fruit and put a paper towel to absorb the water in the same container. Makes them last longer. Brooklyn ny .
Hi fellow free stuff finders! one thing that has made a huge difference for my laundry related costs is taking any container you have with a lid that seals shut. you mix equal parts laundry fabric softener and water inside the container (so for example 2 cups water to 2 cups liquid fabric softener) Then get a new package of dish sponges WITHOUT any abbrasive sides or any scrubber side to it and cut them into halves. Submerge the sponges into the mixture in the container and close the lid. You use these in place of fabric softener sheets and toss 1 into the dryer everytime you’d use dryer sheets! You’ll never need to buy fabric softener sheets again! Lasts for so much longer than sheets and laundry smells amazing! Oroville Ca!
During the summer months we welcome sunny long days but also unwelcomed guests like ants đ we always keep our swrets in air tight containers. So many varieties out there just find one you love. Entering from South El Monte, CA
Tina from Chicago, Illinois! A favorite kitchen product of mine id’s my Kitchen-Aid standing mixer. It was a wedding gift from my good friend, and she got me one in my favorite color – yellow.
I too wash everything with apple cider vinegar & store In containers. A great way to keep lettuce & kale fresh is to wash & dry & then wrap & store in paper towels, keeps moisture out & maintains freshness. I like to freeze my kale too, after Iâve washed it, and it lasts longer & makes it perfect & ready for smoothies.
I really need those, I have the same problem with strawberries especially. The tip I learned a few weeks ago if you wrap lettuce in aluminium foil it could lasts weeks… fresh!
For an air freshener I am going to put wax melts inside of a glass salt and pepper shaker in my car. Twinsburg Ohio
Hi Iâm Maribel Pastrana from Pearland Texas Love your tip I wash my fruit squeeze a lemon put them in air tight Tupperware put them in the fridge
I’ve had good results with Debbie Meyers Green Bags and Containers. They really extend the life of my fruits and vegetables. Los Osos, CA
Oh cool! I haven’t heard of that product! I’ll have to check it out. Thanks Michelle for the tip!
If I know I have too much of something I will just go ahead and freeze it. Also, I like to go ahead and wash my fruits and veggies and put them in little snack baggies so Iâm more likely to actually grab and eat them!
Laura from college station TX