Buying berries at the grocery store only to have them go bad by the time you want to use them is the worst! Let's put an end to wasting them, and let me show you how to clean berries and keep them fresh longer.
Like I mentioned before, we love berries...all of them...strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. Our family will knock down a bowl of berries in two seconds flat, plus we love them on cereal, salads and in smoothies. The problem for me has always been that I buy too many and most of them get moldy after a few days in the refrigerator or I buy a little bit and they are gone 20 minutes after I get home from the store. Recently I read about a trick to get them to stay fresh longer, and I thought I would try it out a few times before sharing. I definitely wanted to make sure it worked before spreading the good news...and good news it is!
All you need to do is make a rinse for your berries. The first thing that I do when I get home from the grocery (after putting all of the groceries away of course), is put all my berries in one spot near my sink. I open them all up and remove any papers that may be under them in their containers. Next, I make a batch of berry wash. It's simply 4 cups of water and ½ cup of white vinegar. I put all of the berries in their containers in my sink with the drain open, open the tops of their containers, and pour the berry washing mixture over top of them, making sure to move the berries around so they all get clean. Once I have covered all of the berries, I let them drain for a bit. Once they are drained, close their lids and give them an extra little shake so any excess water gets out of them. The pH in the vinegar kills any spores that are on your berries so they won't mold so quickly. And...if you are worried that your berries will taste and smell like vinegars, have no fear! The vinegar is so diluted in the water that you won't be able to tell you used vinegar at all...except that your berries will actually last longer...winks!
Now you can enjoy berries for more than just two days after you bring them home from the store! Whoop!
If you liked this post, check out my Tips for Making Your Food Last Longer HERE!
Linda Duensing says
I will certainly try this because I just threw away almost a container of the yesterday. Very frustrating.
Linda D.
Deborah says
I also spray with a vingar solution but often add a small amount if paper toweling on the top and on the bottom of the container they came in. It absorbs extra moisture. I do the same thing with lettuce, wrapping it loosely with the toweling (or a dis cloth) in a plastic bag. Thank you for all your advice. I have completely changed my cleaning solutions!
vivian gerard says
how do you clean rasberrys good idea for the other berries my raspberries go to mush when i wash them
Kim says
What I do is fill my sink and put in the vinegar there. Then gently put the raspberries into the water/vinegar mix, and gently swish them around. Then I use a colander and scoop up the raspberries carefully and if all my fruit is done (I usually leave the raspberries until last) then I let the water mix out and let the raspberries in the colander drain out without any touching the berries, once they aren't dripping anymore I put them gently into the container they came in and put them into the fridge. The main trick is not to touch them or have water pour over top of them. I also find the riper they are the easier they turn to mush. So a little less ripe and they hold their shape better. Hope this helps.
Mihaela says
Thank you very much Jessica!
your advice will certainly help our family health and budget :-)
Donna says
I not only do this for berries, but for ALL my produce, especially if it's something where the flesh will be eaten. I clean all my veggies, plums, peaches, grapes, etc. But I let them sit in the vinegar mixture for several minutes before rinsing. I've worked in grocery stores and my son works in a food warehouse so we've seen where the boxes of produce have been and wouldn't eat any of it till it's been cleaned!
Jessica says
Thanks so much for sharing this, Donna! Great idea!
Hamill says
Wow, cool idea. Thanks for sharing.
Minerva says
I immediately place my berries in the freezer and take out whatever amount I need. Just rinse and they defrost quickly.
I enjoy your hints.. I find them very helpful and look forward to receiving them thanks.
Kimber Bogema says
Thank you!
This is a huge frustration. I can't wait to try this tip!!
1/8 c vinegar for each cup of water. Got it!!
Finally I can enjoy my fruit fresh. Just like from grandma's garden.
Anna says
Thanks for your tips, Jessica, they are very helpful! I think that one of the ways to easier remember the 1/2 cup to 4 cup ratio is to convert it to parts. It will be one part of vinegar to 8 parts of water. 1 : 8. But this is just me
Anna says
So that you don't accidentally mix 1 cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water
Maureen Cole says
Very timely info! Thanks so much. Our blackberries are ripening so fast and each year we lose some because of mold. Will use this starting today!
Anita says
Hallo Jessica,
I just wanted to know what the white vinegar you use, is made from? In South Africa some is made from sugar cane, some is only acetic acid and water, and then the one I use, which is
made from grapes.
Thank you for very useful, interesting posts.
Keep going.
Anita.