Keep strawberries fresh three weeks longer using one surprising kitchen staple – The Mirror
Two cooking authors claim their game-changing preservation solution will help your strawberries last for far longer – and it only takes a couple of minutes to do
Strawberries are undoubtedly a favourite snack among many Brits – though their shelf-life can be a bit of a problem.
Now, one expert claims their quick trick will keep them fresher for far longer – and involves using just one surprising kitchen staple. Believe it or not, this ingredient is white vinegar which can be mixed with water to create a game-changing preservation solution.
This was unveiled by cooking authors, Ariel Klein and Samantha Leffler at Real Simple, who both claimed this trick can save your fruits throughout the week and even beyond. "More often than not, perfectly ripe berries tend to go bad just days after you purchase them, which can be extremely frustrating," they wrote.
"Not only are fresh berries costly, but tossing them in the garbage is a disheartening waste of food." To get started on their method, the authors first recommend dowsing the berries in one-part white vinegar and three parts water, in a bowl for a few minutes.
After this, the berries should be dabbed with some kitchen roll and left out to dry for a further two or three minutes. Then, once the time's up, popping them in an air-tight glass container, in the fridge will do the trick.
White vinegar is a popular preservation tool thanks to its 'acetic acid' – the substance that gives vinegar its polarising, pungent odour. When fruits and other vegetables are dowsed in it, their acidity also increases and any lingering microorganisms are killed in the process, according to Gardening Know How.
In turn, this slashes the chance of rapid mould growth and helps to keep the food fresher for much longer.
If the idea of using vinegar is giving you the ick, fear not. Ariel and Samantha claim that freezing your strawberries is a life-saver too. They continued: "You can absolutely freeze strawberries! And unlike some other foods, strawberries can be frozen in almost any form—whole, halved, sliced, or even crushed."
The authors claim that strawberries can be left in the freezer for a staggering 10 to 12 months, and defrost in only 15 to 30 minutes when placed in a bowl of icy cold water. Don't be alarmed if they look a little darker or feel softer than usual though, as the authors assure this is perfectly normal.
They added: "They will work just fine in a smoothie or on top of a bowl of yoghurt or cereal."
Do you have a story? Get in touch via Lauren.Haughey@reachplc.com.
Serve the food you really want to eat by signing up for our tips and recipes and never be bored by your cooking again
