Strawberries are one of the summer season's greatest gifts! They're bursting with juicy sweetness, and while they're amazing on their own, they're also perfect in tons of strawberry recipes. But before you dig into a pint of fresh berries for that delectable dessert, you'll need to know how to clean the strawberries first.
For one thing, unwashed strawberries may contain dirt from processing and packing. There may also be pesticide residue or even tiny bugs. Gross! That's why washing strawberries properly is so important. But what's the right way to clean strawberries and get rid of all that yucky stuff? Ahead, you'll find all the tips you need for how to clean strawberries—including when to rinse them in water versus salt, vinegar, or baking soda.
Once your strawberries are clean, you can go on with making everything from breakfast to sweet cocktails all summer long! Read on for additional tips on how to store your berries to make them last longer, which is the first step for freezing strawberries for future use, too!
What Is the Best Way to Clean Strawberries?
The golden rule of cleaning strawberries is to only clean the amount you are going to eat at that particular time. When you buy the berries, you should store them dry and unwashed in the fridge. Water leads to the berries breaking down faster, which means if you keep them dry, they will last longer.
When you're ready to eat some pull them out and give them a wash. Here's how to do it: put the amount of strawberries you want to wash in a colander (try to keep them in a single layer, wash in batches if you need to) and run them under cold water for about 20 seconds, moving them around to make sure you get all sides rinsed off. Then, they're ready to eat!
Can You Wash Strawberries With Salt, Vinegar or Baking Soda?
You can wash strawberries with any of these options, though neither are necessary—water works just fine! If you want to wash with salt though, you can dissolve 2 tablespoons per 2 cups of warm water. Add some ice cubes to cool the water down and then soak the strawberries for about five minutes. Drain and thoroughly rinse the berries to remove any of the excess salt.
If you want to wash the strawberries with vinegar (this is a good choice if you're using non-organic strawberries because it will wash off pesticides more thoroughly) here's what to do: combine two cups water with a half-cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and submerge the strawberries for about 10 minutes (increase the vinegar and water for larger quantities of berries). Drain the berries and thoroughly rinse them to keep them from tasting pickled.
Similarly, you can dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in a few cups of cool water. Soak the strawberries in the solution for about five minutes. Drain and thoroughly rinse the berries for about 30 seconds to remove any of the residue. Regardless of the method you use, you should dry them, too.
How to Dry Strawberries
The wetter the berries, the faster they will spoil. So even after you clean them, you should dry them again before consuming them. All you need to do is lay them out on a clean kitchen towel or a few layers of paper towels to soak in the excess moisture. You can also pat them gently dry to speed up the process.
How to Get Rid of Bugs on Strawberries
Soaking strawberries in salt water will help dislodge any hidden dirt or bugs. (Ew, we know.) That said, it's normal for there to be some earthy residue on the berries, but if you're particularly concerned about bugs, give them a soak in salt water.
How to Store Strawberries After Cleaning
Sadly, as soon as you wash your berries, they will start to break down, which is why it is recommended to only wash the berries you are going to use. But, life happens! So if you washed your berries already and need to store them, there are ways to slow down their deterioration. First, keep them whole and make sure they are very dry with a paper towel. Then line an air-tight food storage container with more dry paper towels and place the strawberries on top in one layer, if possible. Close the lid and pop them in the refrigerator for storage.
