When we think of summer fruits, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries, and strawberries all come flooding in! We can make so many delicious things with berries, from sweet cocktails, desserts and juices to smoothies, jams and salads. But berries are such small and delicate fruits that take a long time to grow and harvest, that they remain costly even at peak season, so it’s essential to find a way to store them properly. Luckily, The Swag team has some helpful tips to keep berries fresh for weeks!
- When choosing a punnet of berries at the supermarket, make sure to turn the punnet upside down and check that none of the berries has been squashed or bruised. Selecting the best berries is key to their longevity. If squashed, the berries will release juice, sugar and moisture that ultimately create the ideal environment for mould to grow. If you give a closer look at punnets in stores, you might spot white mildew, which isn’t a good sign.
- If you spot mouldy berries, it’s best to discard them into your compost right away.
- Eat the super ripe berries as soon as possible - don’t wait for them to go too soft to eat them! Not only do they taste best at this time, but this is also when they are the most nutrient rich!
- We recommend washing your berries with water and apple cider vinegar - you can leave the berries in the punnet and let them soak in your sink. After a few minutes in the vinegar/water mixture, spread out berries on a tea towel and dry them off well with your Organic Non-Paper Towel
- We have found berries thrive when their punnets are nestled in between the Swags. Berries will breathe in the humidity released by our Swags and will remain crisp and fresh for 2+ weeks
You can also put the berries into a mason jar or any other glass container with an airtight lid. If you really don’t have time to eat the berries, pop them in a Lunch Swag and freeze them for later and then when you’re ready, they can be cooked on a low heat to make your own berry compote.
