How to Store and Use Fresh Strawberries

Pick your own strawberries in June and July, depending on where you live.

Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. These berries are loaded with Vitamin C, folic acid, fiber and potassium. One cup of berries is less than 100 calories. Strawberries do not ripen after they have been picked, so you want to pick ones that are bright red with fresh green leaves. Not only are strawberries healthy, they are easy to store.

Things You'll Need

• Sugar
• Hulling tool or paring knife
• Cookie sheet
• Freezer bags

Instructions

1. When you get strawberries home, sort through the berries. Look for bruised berries and remove them; they will spoil the others. Keep strawberries in the refrigerator, uncovered, and unhulled until you are ready to use them.

2. Wash the berries, then hull them (take off the green caps), and dry them with a paper towel. Don't let them soak in water. Mix with strawberries with a little sugar, add them to cereal, or make strawberry pie or shortcake.

3. To freeze strawberries without sugar, deep red strawberries freeze best. Wash, hull and drain them. Place them on a cookie sheet, and freeze for 24 hours. Remove them and place in containers or freezer bags leaving 1/2 inch of air space. Freezing them individually eliminates mushy berries.

4. To freeze with sugar, wash, hull and dry the berries. Add 3/4 cup sugar to 4 cups berries. Let stand until juice forms and the sugar is mostly dissolved. Pack in containers or freezer bags and leave 1/2 inch of air space.

Tips & Warnings

• Did you know that strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside?

References

• What's Cooking America: Strawberries, Hints and Tips Guide
• Taste of Home: Buying and Storing Strawberries