HOW TO CLEAN STRAWBERRIES PROPERLY
How to clean strawberries properly
Is there anything more summery than a basket of freshly picked strawberries? When you buy a box of ruby red berries at the store, you want to make sure your strawberries are thoroughly cleaned before eating. Washing strawberries ensures that you and your family don’t eat any dirt, bugs, or unnecessary chemicals (because no one wants tainted strawberry shortcake).
Here are some quick ways to clean your strawberries with vinegar, baking soda, or salt before eating them. Here’s why (plus 5 delicious snacks)
Tips before cleaning strawberries
Before you start washing your fruit, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure it doesn’t get moldy or spoiled before you eat it.
- Do not wash your strawberries until you are ready to cook or eat them. Strawberries have a sponge-like quality that allows them to absorb as much water as possible. If you wash your tomatoes in advance and store them, they will spoil quickly.
- Wash your hands before handling fruit. It’s not just about strawberries! Make sure your hands are clean before touching any kind of food to avoid transferring germs to the food you eat.
- Toss any moldy or bruised berries. You don’t want to eat them because they can make you sick. In addition, leaving the creeping seeds in the container can make the seeds grow better.
- Avoid washing the product. According to the FDA, “It is not recommended to use soap, detergent, or commercial products to wash fruits and vegetables.
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How to wash strawberries in water
If you buy organic (and pesticide-free) berries from your local farmer’s market or other source, you can rinse them in cold water before placing them on a dish towel or paper towel. leaves to dry. Then you are ready to slice, cook or pop in your mouth.
If your fresh local strawberries look dirty, you can also use the vinegar method below to remove excess dirt. However, do not use a fruit and vegetable brush, as this can damage the fragile outer surface or crush the fruit completely.
- Step 1: Place fresh strawberries in a colander and rinse under cold water for several seconds. Use clean hands to turn the fruit into a bowl to wash each strawberry.
- Step 2: Turn off the water, then swirl the strainer to remove any excess water. Put the strawberries in a clean egg and dry them. They are ready to eat now.
How to clean strawberries with vinegar
If you buy strawberries at the grocery store, especially if they were grown with regular pesticides, you’ll want to take a few extra steps before eating them. Strawberries are one of the most commonly sprayed crops. Using a mixture of vinegar and water can help gently clean strawberries that may be covered in pesticides and other chemicals.
In addition, the journey from the big farm to the shelf of the grocery store is long, many different people have used your fruit and exposed to different conditions. Needless to say, it’s worth taking a few moments to make sure your seeds are as clean as possible.
- Step 1: Fill a large bowl with one part water and one part white wine.
- Step 2: Place the tomatoes in a colander that fits in a large bowl. Gently place the strainer into the bowl and make sure the fruit is completely covered in the vinegar.
- Step 3: soak for about 20 minutes (longer time can create soggy berries and shorter time is ineffective).
- Step 4: Lift the strainer and rinse the fruit thoroughly under cold water. Wipe the fruit with a clean cloth or cloth. Don’t worry, there won’t be a hint of alcohol left if you rinse thoroughly, just the delicious taste of summer.
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How to clean strawberries with salt
Salt water is an effective way to kill strawberry bugs (rats, we know). Just grab a bowl and whatever salt you have in your pantry and follow these steps:
- Step 1: Add about a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of hot water and let it dissolve.
- Step 2: Put the strawberries in salted water and let them soak for about five minutes. Step 3: Wash the fruits and they are ready to eat.
How to clean strawberries with Baking Soda
If you have baking soda on hand in your pantry, it is an effective tool for cleaning your fruit. Just mix it with water to remove pesticides, dirt and insects.
- Step 1: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with four cups of water and stir until dissolved.
- Step 2: Add the strawberries to the mixture and mix them with clean hands.
- Step 3: Let the strawberries soak in the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Step 4: Wash the fruits and they are ready to eat.
Why is it important to clean strawberries?
Strawberries are easily exposed to pesticides and are number one on EWG’s Dirty Dozen, a list of pesticide-contaminated produce. Washing strawberries properly can prevent you and your family from getting sick from ingesting these toxic chemicals. Consider buying organic strawberries at your local grocery store or farmers market (or growing your own strawberries) to avoid pesticide contamination.
How to store strawberries after washing
There are several ways to store strawberries, including:
- Place them in an airtight glass container such as a food processor or mason jar.
- Place the unwashed strawberries on a paper towel in a food storage bag and refrigerate.
- Rinse the strawberries with vinegar, dry them and place them on a clean paper towel in a glass container.
- Put the strawberries in the fridge.