How to Harvest and Store Strawberries

Strawberries boast more vitamin C than any other berry; half a cup provides 70 percent of the recommended daily allotment. They also contain ellagic acid, which research suggests may help to prevent some types of cancer. William Butler knew what he was talking about when he said, 300 years or so ago, "Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did."

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baskets
• Garden Shears
• Gardening Gloves
• Plastic Containers

1. Start harvesting strawberries the second year after planting.
2. Pick the berries when they're fully red and no green shows at the tips.
3. Pinch or snip the stems; never grasp the berries themselves or you'll risk bruising them.
4. Collect and store strawberries in shallow containers, no more than 5 inches deep, to avoid crushing the fruit on the bottom.
5. Keep strawberries in the refrigerator for no more than two days.
6. Freeze strawberries for long-term storage, or make them into preserves, ice cream or muffins.

Tips & Warnings

• The really good news about strawberries is that ellagic acid retains its effectiveness even when whirled into milkshakes, baked into pies or smothered with whipped cream on strawberry shortcake.

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