My daughter always asks for fresh raspberries or blueberries when I go to the store, but sometimes I hold off because they can get soft and moldy so quickly. And one little container is so expensive!
Then I developed a habit that helped. Because essentially, the longevity of berries starts at the store.
What To Check When You’re Buying Fresh Berries
Sometimes the berries inside a plastic carton look great from the top, but once you get them home you find a few moldy ones lurking underneath that set off a chain reaction, and poof! There goes $4.99.
That’s why I gently flip the container and peek at its underside before I put it in my cart. If the berries look smashed, moldy, or liquidy from the bottom, they’re not going home with me. Usually there’s a little moisture-absorbing diaper in the bottom, and if it’s blotchy, that’s an instant tell.
Mind you, I’m not jiggling the carton or opening it. I’m just examining the situation from another perspective. Sometimes pristine-seeming berries disguise the rotten ones.
Why Fresh Berries Don’t Last Very Long
Blueberries and strawberries are sturdier, but caneberries like blackberries and raspberries are delicate little things that rupture easily, leaking their colorful juices. And moisture is often what triggers berries to go bad. It makes sense that what you see on top of the carton looks best, since moisture moves down, not up.
How To Make Fresh Berries Last Longer
When you get your carton of berries home, refrigerate it as soon as possible. If it’s a large amount of berries (like a cardboard carton), transfer them to a shallow bowl or plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture and keep the top layer from compressing the bottom layer.
Don’t wash blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries until you’re ready to use them. Strawberries, on the other hand, you can wash in advance if you do it right.
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What To Do When Berries Start Getting Soft
If we’re taking longer to go through a carton of berries than I anticipated, I try to act fast because I know their lifespan is limited. Either I’ll freeze them or make them into something tasty, like chai jam or a crisp. Nothing makes me sadder than throwing beautiful berries away!
Read the original article on Simply Recipes