Storing Berries in the Refrigerator

Strawberries should always be refrigerated. In order to ensure that your berries remain fresh it is recommended that you store them in the plastic clamshell container in your refrigerator. You should store them as cold as possible without freezing them. Never leave them out because they will breakdown more rapidly and not continue to ripen.

Cleaning Berries Before Eating

When you wish to consume some of the berries be sure to just rinse the berries off you will eat and leave the rest in the container. It is important to not rinse the berries until right before they are going to be consumed. It is also recommended to let the strawberries come to room temperature before serving to maximize flavor.

Freeze Berries for Long-Term Storage

We recommend freezing as the most effective way to save berries long-term. The best berries to be frozen should be dark red and fully ripened. If you freeze them in a bag, they will clump together. Remember the fruit stops ripening after it is picked. Cut the caps off the tops of the berries, rinse, and allow to fully dry. Then place the berries on a cookie sheet and put in a freezer for 24 hours. You then place the berries in a freezer bag or plastic container in your freezer. If you want to use them for shortcake, a good way is to slice them after washing and capping. Mix in thoroughly 1 part suagr with 4 parts strawberries and allow the mixture to set for about an hour. The sugar makes a juice that is good to freeze them in. Transfer the mixture into Tupperware and freeze. The berries should maintain their integrity for several months.