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!
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”.
You’re absolutely right about the strawberries and blueberries going bad; especially the strawberries. We love those two berries and so far what we tried was washing in bulk and drying in bulk. I recently started using the salad spinner to dry them more and then I put them back in their original container lining it with paper towel.
One thing that I did not think of was using vinegar to wash the fruit. It’s not a pleasant smelling liquid to work with but since you mention it’s effectiveness, I will surely have to try.
I’ve been eyeing the Rubbermaid FreshWorks container boxes, but wasn’t sure if they really work but THANK YOU for giving your honest review of that product.
I have yet to find a product that I am in love with. Still searching for something that I’ll be in awe of.
I think this Favorite Things Friday would be beneficial for those that are eager to learn more about making life simpler!! Thank you again Tina for all that you do.
I’m reading your blog from Rockville, Maryland.
*Also, I was curious to know why I was not seeing your post as frequently as I use to and after reading your pinned post, I selected “all post”. Thanks!!
I wash the plastic containers that the fruit comes in and use those.
Houston, TX
This is such a cool trick – I had no clue they made container for berries! A tip I have for keeping spinach fresh is to similarly store it. Put the spinach in a ziplock bag with paper towel on each side and suck all the air out – itll stay fresh for weeks!
Im reading from Asheville, NC! 🙂
I like using apple cider vinegar on fruits too! I started doing that a couple months ago when I say it on a “kitchen hacks” video. Love it!
San Antonio Texas
I’ve been wondering what I can use my ACV for, since I have 2 huge jars of it, thanks for the tip!! I’m from Renton, WA 🙂
Hello, my name isTaSonya, reading from Louisville, Kentucky. Home of the Kentucky Derby. I would love to win these for my son. He’s 4years old and it’s very hard to get him to eat vegetables however he loves fruit. Grapes, cranberries and strawberries. I don’t buy fruit often because he doesn’t eat a lot and they go bad within a few days of buying them after he’s eaten a few. These would allow me to keep fruits longer and easy access for him to grab. Here’s a tip to keep eggs longer, crack them in a ice tray and freeze them. Only pull out how many u need and keep the others frozen!!
Oooooo! That’s a cool tip for Eggs! I didn’t know that. I’ve tossed out eggs before to much pain lol. Thank you!
Thank you for the apple cider vinegar tip! I also hate throwing away food that has spoiled. So I make many runs to the super market because I don’t like to purchase more then I need. Sometimes it is a hassle especially when am exhausted from work then having to go home and and trying to figure out what’s for dinner. I’ve realized planing out the week has helped but still go buy veggies or fruits during the week.
Thank you, for all your helpful tips!
Pico Rivera, California
I love this and I’m glad you shared I remember the sale you mentioned they had on these products at Target and the coupon that was out at the time in a YouTube video! As soon as I saw it I immediately printed the coupon and went out to buy one to try it out. I love it thanks to you! Reading from Fort Worth, TX.
Thank’s for sharing your strategy on keeping fruits fresh longer! I’ve been on the fence about getting these containers but guess this is a sign to give it a shot now! In addition, I also keep veggies like lettuce fresh by wrapping them with paper towels to prevent them from absorbing excess moisture that can make them go bad and lose its crunch easily. Reading from Garden Grove, CA!
Writing from Conway , Arkansas. My tip is for all those newspapers we have as couponers. I put a layer of newspapers in the bottom of my trash can and a small layer inside the trash bag also. Really helps with leaks and keeping my trash can clean!! And thanks so much for the giveaway. You’re so generous!