How To Clean Strawberries — Best Ways To Wash and Keep Strawberries Fresh

Do you love strawberries? Whether you're a fan of strawberry shortcake or strawberry pie, celebrate these summer dishes by trying one of these recipes. Before we get started on these mouthwatering recipes, here is a quick how-to cut and clean your fresh strawberries:

Choose the Best Ones and Rinse them

The most basic way of cleaning strawberries is simply by running them under the faucet. So handpick your best strawberries and rinse them.

Clean Your Strawberry With Baking Soda

Baking soda is known to be one of the most effective cleaning agents that are readily available in your kitchen. Did you know that you could actually clean your fresh strawberries using these 2?

You can effectively clean your strawberries and the best part is that it will only take about five minutes.

• Start by filling a bowl with the ratio of cold water to baking soda 4:1 respectively.
• Let them sit for about five minutes before rinsing the strawberries under cold water.
• After washing the berries, gently pat them dry using a clean cloth or paper towel. The ratio of vinegar to water is low which is why the clean berries won't have any vinegar taste to them.

Clean Your Strawberry With Salt Water

Here, we show how you can use a saltwater bath to clean your fresh berries,

• First, you dissolve 1 tsp. of salt per 1 cup of warm water.
• You don't want to have your strawberries cook in warm water so ensure to let the mixture cool
• Lastly, let your juicy strawberries soak in the saltwater bath for at least five minutes.
• Afterward, rinse the strawberries with cold running tap water and pat dry

Kill Bugs Using Garlic and Hot Pepper

Kill Bugs That Are Burrowed In Your Strawberries Using Garlic and Hot Pepper

If you are someone who grows strawberries, then you would be familiar with some of the detectable and harmful pesticides used to kill pests in your garden.

If you are looking for a less harmful pesticide, we suggest making a homemade spray made from garlic or hot pepper mixed with water to spray plants.

• Pro tip: Use neem oil or a citrus-based insecticidal oil to prevent infestations.

Soak in a Vinegar Solution to Remove Pesticides

Just like Baking soda, vinegar, is also known to be one of the most effective cleaning agents. You can effectively clean your strawberries. This would also only take about five minutes.

• Start by filling a bowl with the ratio of cold water to white vinegar 4:1 respectively.
• Let them sit for about five minutes (to kill harmful and detectable pesticides) before rinsing the strawberries under cold water.
• After washing the berries, gently pat them dry using a clean cloth or paper towel. The ratio of vinegar to water is low which is why the clean berries won't have any vinegar taste.

Wash Strawberries with Dish Soap or Water

• Another way of cleaning your berries would be to just use Dish soap. This prevents us from consuming detectable and harmful pesticides.
• Use a clean towel or paper towel to pat the Strawberries dry.

Grab, Twist, and Pull the Stem

Now that your strawberries are clean, you can now start using them. We personally like to start by removing the stem of the strawberry. This is a more simplified way of removing the stem from the strawberries.

Remove the Hull

Using a  paring knife, poke the tip of the knife into the top of the white part called the hull. Insert just the tip of the knife into the top of the strawberry at about a 45-degree angle, outside of the hull. You should see the red color inside the berry, which means you've gotten all of the hulls removed. The hull is usually the most bitter part.

You can also use a Strawberry Huller to save time and effort.

Removing the hull leaves you with just the juicy and luscious fruit inside. With bigger, tougher berries, you may need to trim a little more out.

Cut as Desired!

The world is your oyster when it comes to cutting your strawberries! The most basic way is simply by cutting it in half if you want bigger chunks.

• Put a strawberry on a chopping block vertically, top-down.
• To cut it in half, slice straight down from its tip into the middle with your paring knife.
• You can use this technique to quickly reduce the size and make strawberries easier to incorporate into a smoothy or shake by using your blender.
• Strawberry pies or tarts can also be baked using an oven.

Most of all: You can also use them as toppings for your drinks and desserts!

How to make your Strawberries Last Longer

One way of keeping your strawberries last longer is by drying them! Use a  dehydrator to process drying faster.

• Arrange the strawberry slices on the dehydrator trays so that there is at least a half-inch of space between the slices.
• Set the dehydrator's temperature to 135 F/57 C. (dehydration time will take 8 to 10 hours to fully dry the strawberries; 10 to 14 hours if you want them to be crisp rather than pliable.)

Freeze Strawberries to Make Them Last Longer

Strawberries can be frozen whole, sliced or crushed, and with or without sugar. Strawberries are recommended to be consumed within 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator.

But did you know? freezing strawberries can actually make them last for 8 to 12 months, according to the FDA. These frozen strawberries would be nice to have as a smoothie or your favorite drink.

• All you would really need is a bit of vinegar, water, and a colander or salad spinner.
• To start off, pour about ½ cup of white vinegar and 2 ½ cups of water into a large bowl, and soak your berries in the mixture for a few minutes.
• The vinegar will get rid of mold spores and bacteria, which make your strawberries spoil quicker. Once they're solid, place them in freezer containers or bags.

Which foods go well with strawberries?

Many flavors are able to go well with strawberries; and vice versa. Strawberries can be used in many different ways. Strawberries are also an excellent addition to many dishes including fruit salads, ice cream, and smoothies.

(see more:  Strawberry recipes)

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