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How to clean & store fresh summer berries

The sweetness of summertime berries is worth waiting all winter for, and they’re the perfect addition to so many recipes, or just eaten by the handful. So how do you make them last and prevent moldy disappointments? It starts with proper cleaning and storage.

Whether you bought a basket at the farmer’s market or hand-picked them yourself, you can store berries in the fridge or freezer. Use these instructions and helpful tips from our test kitchen to get the most out of your strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Fresh from the Fridge

Berries typically keep in the fridge for two to seven days, depending on the type of berry. Generally, the more fragile the berry, the shorter it will keep. Here’s how to get the maximum shelf life:

  1. Wait to wash berries until just before you are ready to use them.
  2. Keep them in their original container so they can breathe at around 32-34°F.
  3. Keep your berries dry. If they look too crowded or humid, you may want to lay a paper towel under the berries in the bottom of the container.
  4. When ready to eat, rinse gently under cool water.

Freeze Now, Enjoy Later

Preserve your bounty of berries for months–8 to 12 to be exact–in the freezer by following these easy steps.

  1. Rinse them in cool water as you would before serving berries stored in the fridge, then lay them on paper towels in a single layer to dry completely.
  2. Lay berries on a tray lined in plastic wrap or parchment paper and freeze in a single layer for 1 hour.
  3. Remove berries and add to an airtight container or vacuum seal before placing in the freezer to store. If vacuum sealing berries, use the vacuum seal pulse function until the desired amount of air is removed from the bag before sealing. Tip: Since vacuum bags cannot be resealed once open, make sure each bag contains one portion or serving of berries.
  4. Defrost berries in the refrigerator for several hours, or use them still frozen for smoothies and baked goods.

Note: Most berries, like raspberries, strawberries and blackberries can be stored in the freezer for 8 to 12 months when freezer is 0F(-18C). Blueberries can be stored in the freezer for up to 10 months.

Do’s & Dont’s

Do let your berries get closer to room temperature before serving to enhance their natural flavors.
Do take the time to freeze your berries in a single layer first. This makes it easier to remove berries and measure for a recipe.
Do add frozen berries directly to batters – it helps prevent the batter from streaking and changing color. Recipes might need to be adjusted if using frozen berries.
Do store frozen berries mixed together for easy smoothies.
Don’t store your berries in the crisper drawers of your fridge. They are too humid for sensitive berries.
Don’t wash blueberries before freezing – washing causes their skin to toughen.
Don’t forget – all frozen berries lose their firmness after freezing.

When you’re ready to enjoy your berries, try one of these delicious recipes:

  1. 16 Strawberry Recipes Perfect for Summertime
  2. Blueberry Smoothie
  3. Blackberry Toast with Brie and Basil
  4. Lavender Blackberry Latte
  5. Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry and Apple Juice

Dont forget to share your creations with us by tagging @hamiltonbeach on Facebook and Instagram.

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Comments

  1. Just started eating berries. I thought I didn’t like them. They are very good for you also. Grapes are good frozen. Having a lovely time eating new things.

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