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How to Keep Strawberries Fresh Longer! {2 Easy Hacks}

April 13, 2012 By Heidi 42 Comments

I may get paid for ads or purchases made through links in this post.

So are you wondering How to Keep Strawberries Fresh?  With these easy little tricks, you’ll never need to toss out your favorite berries again!

How to Keep Strawberries Fresh In the Fridge

These easy hacks for How to Keep Strawberries Fresh are an absolute must have trick for any strawberry fanatic… like me!!!

Now they are weird little tricks, but they really do work like a charm to keep those Strawberries Fresh longer in the fridge!  No more moldy berries, no more wasted strawberries.  These are win-win tips that every strawberry lover can use.

Now I LOVE Strawberries!  I love them fresh and I love them in my Fruit Kabobs.  I love them in my morning Smoothies and I really love to use them to make Freezer Jam.  When it comes down to it, I’ll find any excuse I can think of to add more strawberries into my life.  So yes… I pretty much love strawberries all the time! 😉

As a huge lover of strawberries, I know that nobody wants to toss their berries before they can enjoy them!  That’s why I just had to share my favorite little tricks with you.

Here’s what you need to do to make your strawberries last longer…

How to Keep Strawberries Fresh Longer

Related:

  • 101 Genius Kitchen Tips and Tricks that will help you save so much time and effort!

So are you wondering how to keep strawberries from molding?  Here are two keep strawberries fresh hacks to try the next time you buy or pick berries…

Tip #1: How To Keep Strawberries Fresh With Vinegar!

How to Keep Strawberries Fresh Longer

The first method is to soak strawberries in vinegar and water!  Following is a kitchen tip shared by frugal friend Susan on The Frugal Girls Facebook page…

“Since strawberries are starting to show up at the grocery stores, and will soon be at the Farmer’s Markets, I thought I would share a little trick that my good ol’ Mom told me about.

To keep the strawberries fresh longer in the refrigerator…

  1. Use 1 Part White Vinegar to 10 Parts Water.
  2. How long can strawberries soak in vinegar?  Soak the strawberries (leaves and all) in the vinegar/water mixture for at least 10 minutes.
  3. Then drain the strawberries in a colander until they are completely dry. {Note: I lay mine out on towels or paper towels and pat dry, then let air dry until they are COMPLETELY dry}
  4. Then I place my strawberries in an uncovered bowl in the refrigerator.  The vinegar/water mixture kills any mold spores on the strawberries and keeps them fresh longer.  The vinegar does not affect the taste.  This also works for all kinds of berries: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.  It really works!!”

Isn’t that SO easy?  I’ve been using this trick now over and over, and can’t believe how well it works!  Trust me… give it a try – you’ll be amazed!

What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About The Vinegar Wash Method:

Susan writes: “I do this with my berries. It works!”

Linda writes: “The vinegar soak works well with any berries. Won’t taste like vinegar.”

Kathleen writes: “I have done this for a few years now and can vouch that it really works”

Amy writes: “And this is much cheaper than the fruit + veggie washes on the market!”

Lauren writes: “For strawberries I make sure to lay them on the counter over paper towels or a towel so they are completely dry. I clean the container they came in and store them in that with a paper towel on the bottom.”

Margurite writes: “I do this with all fruits.”

Elizabeth writes: “It absolutely works! And it really cleans the berries well.  I stir them a bit once they’re submerged.  My vinegar water is so dirty when I pour it off!”

Christina writes: “Yes I do this with a lot of fruit and some vegetables too! It works!”

Sherra writes: “This totally works. I’ve been doing it for a few years.”

PC writes: “WOW! A lot of dirt came off my strawberries! Ive always just rinsed them in running water, I’ve probably eaten way to much dirt in my lifetime. Although, I’ve been cleaning grapes in a vinegar bath for years. Well, I’ll certainly use this hack for everything from now on. I used a Rubbermaid oblong Take Along for a 32 ounce container of strawberries, it worked great. Plus, I used the lid lined with paper towels for them to dry on!”

Erica writes: “I also freeze mine if they start to go bad. Then I use them for smoothies.”

Tip #2: Store Strawberries in Glass Jar

How to Keep Strawberries from Molding

Want to know how to keep strawberries fresh without vinegar?  Sometimes you simply don’t have time to give your berries a good soak and dry right away.  So here’s another simple trick for how to keep strawberries from molding too quickly…

  1. Remove unwashed berries from their packaging, and immediately transfer to mason jars when you get home.  
  2. Affix lids onto the jars
  3. Then place jars in the very back of your refrigerator {or the coldest part of your fridge}.  Easy-peasy!

What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About The Mason Jar Method:

Sarah writes: “Storing them in a jar before washing will keep them fresh longer.”

Linda writes: “Have 4 containers in the fridge now, 1 from 2 weeks ago with a few berries and the other 3 containers from Saturday. The 2 weeks could easily go another week or 2.”

Mary Jane writes: “In a mason jar with the lid on, in the back of your fridge, they stay good for weeks”

Brenda writes: “I tried it with grapes and it works!”

So what are you waiting for?  Give these methods a try, and see just how long you can get those fresh berries to last!

So now that you know how to keep fresh strawberries fresh in the fridge longer, I’ve got even more fun strawberry ideas and strawberry recipes to share with you….

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How to Freeze Strawberries

Make sure you have strawberries whenever you want with this easy tip for How to Freeze Strawberries!

Strawberry Freezing Tips from TheFrugalGirls.com

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No-Crust Strawberry Pie Recipe

Enjoy your strawberry dessert without the guilt when you make this No-Crust Strawberry Pie Recipe!

Cream Cheese Filled Strawberries

These Cream Cheese Filled Strawberries deliver strawberry bliss in a bite-size package… perfect for parties!

Easy Freezer Jam Recipe

Nothing beats the simplicity of this Easy Freezer Jam Recipe. Strawberry Jam on your morning toast tastes even better when it’s homemade!

Strawberry Jam Recipe for Canning

Strawberries are my very favorite berry and this easy no hassle strawberry jam with is such a fun way to enjoy the flavors of summer.  It’s sweet, fruity, and so yummy!

One of the easiest ways to save money is to simply avoid food waste.  So be sure to check out even more of my clever tips that will help your produce last longer…

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If you want to keep your bananas from ripening too quickly, you really need to try this trick!

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Avoid waste and make your lettuce last longer when you use this easy tip!

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Keep your Celery fresh and crisp with this simple tip that is sure to save you money!

How to Keep Cilantro Fresh

Keeping Cilantro Fresh really couldn’t be easier, and it’s the only way I store it.  This little kitchen trick works like a charm!

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Are you wondering How to Store Potatoes Long Term? These simple little potato storage tricks work like a charm!

Growing Green Onions in Water

This is one of my favorite tips.  It feels like your cheating it’s so easy!

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Fruit and Veggie Wash

Before you use bite into those fruits and veggies, be sure to use this DIY Fruit and Veggie Wash with Vinegar!

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So don’t miss out!  Come follow along for more fun with The Frugal Girls here…

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So have you tried this trick for How to Keep Strawberries Fresh yet?

Leave a comment & share!

Filed Under: DIY, Kitchen Tips, Most Popular 5 Tagged With: Fruits

Comments

  1. delphine says

    April 12, 2022 at 9:43 am

    Merci pour ces conseils anti-gaspi C’est tellement bon les fraises
    Bonne soirée

    Reply
    • Heidi says

      April 12, 2022 at 11:02 am

      Avec plaisir, Delphine. 🙂 Bonne soirée

      Reply
  2. Christie says

    March 8, 2021 at 1:52 pm

    This is a great hack! Thanks so much for sharing how to keep them fresh! I always struggle with this.

    Reply
    • Heidi says

      March 8, 2021 at 3:17 pm

      You’re very welcome, Christie! It’s amazing how quickly they can go bad, but this trick really does work like a charm! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Shery Borenstein says

    February 24, 2016 at 9:43 am

    Is there anyway you can combine your How to Keep Food Items fresh into one space that I can share with my daughters? The ideas are great and would help all of us to save some hard-earned money. It always makes me sad to have to throw away food. When it comes to fruit that is just starting to get mushy, I’ll put them in storage containers or baggies and place them in the freezer for smoothies or to use in baking.

    Reply
    • Heidi says

      February 24, 2016 at 10:25 am

      Hi Shery ~ I’m so glad you’re enjoying the tips!

      You can find all of the ideas for keeping food fresh on this page here: https://thefrugalgirls.com/genius-kitchen-tips-and-tricks 🙂

      Reply
  4. Janette says

    February 15, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    My roommate and I got amazing strawberries at the farmers market the other week and a couple days later they were pretty bad! I was complaining as to how I wished we could have made them last longer. Now I know how! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Don Brandeberry says

    June 7, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    I grow my own berries (beginner) and pick some that are not complete ripe. How do I store them to ripen ???? Help

    Reply
  6. Linda Woodmansee` says

    May 29, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    Even easier, a tip I read somewhere ?? , keep unwashed berries in a glass jar with a metal lid. They stay fresh for two weeks or more. It works for all berries, of course, raspberries not quite as long.

    Reply
  7. Kim says

    August 7, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    Hey, thanks for the tip. I was just talking to my son about the strawberries that I bought yesterday and how I wish they stayed fresh/unmoldy longer. Off to try this tip.

    Reply
  8. Jen @ Cuddles and Chaos says

    April 25, 2013 at 9:34 am

    I’ve been meaning to try this for a while now, but after my last batch of moldy berries I had enough! I have three pounds of strawberries soaking in the sink as we speak! Can’t wait to see the result!

    Reply
  9. Shawn Lewis says

    April 24, 2013 at 5:53 am

    I have started doing this for all fruits and veggies that I eat the skins of. So far I have done this with apples, berries, grapes, and cucumbers and they have all lasted longer. I’ve had some apples for close to a month that are still good!

    Reply
  10. bridget says

    August 5, 2012 at 10:23 am

    I tried this but forgot the step of drying them first, yeah instant yuck, so make sure to dry before putting back in fridge.

    Reply
  11. Nancy says

    July 5, 2012 at 4:18 am

    Thought this was interesting. Tried it with the last batch of store bought… It REALLY worked! Thanks so much!

    Reply
  12. MaryAnne Keough says

    June 21, 2012 at 5:14 am

    This works so well- I have been using this method for all my berries. I feel that it probobly helps to clean any dirt or bugs off too. White vinegar is a great cleansing agent. Thanks somuch. Haven’t had1 singlemoldy blackberry, blu berry, or strawberry this season!

    Reply
  13. Julie Lewis says

    May 19, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    When you say 1 part…how much does that mean? like 1 cup of vinegar to 10 cups of water? Sorry.. really stupid question I know….

    Reply
    • Tiffany says

      May 21, 2012 at 2:00 am

      Julie, it means however much you choose to make……for example if you put one teaspoon vinegar, then you’d put 10 teaspoons water. Or cups or anything else. Not stupid! 🙂

      Reply
    • India Tolbert says

      February 28, 2013 at 11:27 am

      That’s funny. I was just about to ask that. Thanks for asking and getting my question answered. I’m always wondering about that.

      Reply
  14. Lusine says

    May 18, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    thank youuu,with me the strawberries lasted only for a day before!

    Reply
  15. Jen says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    Good idea. Dr oz also says you can soak strawberries in water for 5min to remove most of the pesticides. So that first and then the vinegar would be an even better idea.

    Reply
  16. Cassie says

    May 10, 2012 at 11:30 am

    This is a great tip and it works with all kinds of berries, including blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, too.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 22, 2012 at 9:27 am

      I just wanted to be sure, do you not rinse the water/vinegar rinse off after they dry? I would think you taste the vinegar, no?

      Reply
  17. Karen @ The Food Charlatan says

    May 9, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    You just changed my life. This is awesome!!

    Reply
  18. Alethea says

    May 9, 2012 at 10:10 am

    Do you think this will work for grapes??

    Reply
    • Jessie says

      August 8, 2013 at 11:12 am

      I use the apple cider vinegar for my grapes and all my fruits.

      Reply
  19. Reeserl says

    May 7, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    I can have white vinegar. Does apple cider vinegar work too?

    Reply
    • Cassy says

      March 15, 2013 at 5:24 pm

      I use apple cider vinegar and it works just fine. No after taste.

      Reply
  20. Anshu says

    May 3, 2012 at 11:36 am

    I’m so gonna try this. I just threw away a bunch of moldy strawberries yesterday…ouch. Thanks for sharing the tip.

    Reply
  21. Constance Vlahoulis says

    May 2, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    One more BIG Tip:
    On my way to the studio this time a year- I see “The Strawberry Man” everyday. His truck parked along our country road- back filled with baskets of SC Strawberries. So of course- I buy these fresh ones!

    He told me HIS TIP for making strawberries last as LONG as possible.
    After you wash them (I am adding the vinegar next time too) ::::
    place them on a clean dishtowel to dry- NOT TOUCHING each other.
    Takes quite a whole to TOTALLY dry- so important to not let them touch.
    After they dry- then can tuck them in paper towels in the fridge.

    It works!

    Reply
    • Carinit says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:12 am

      Use a Paper Towel Lined Egg Flat to Dry Them Separately.

      Reply
    • Chris says

      October 15, 2018 at 7:14 pm

      Love this tip and have been using this method for years.

      After totally drying, I place strawberries in a container on paper towels, not touching, and in layers with paper towels between each layer., still trying to keep the berries separated. Seal the container and place in fridge.

      I’ve had 1/2 pallet last more than two weeks using this method.

      Reply
  22. Sally Bassett says

    April 25, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    Thank you so much for this hint. Our strawberries are coming in now and I will try this

    Reply
  23. Sharon says

    April 25, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    Thanks for the tip! No more wasted strawberries!yay

    Reply
  24. Marilyn says

    April 24, 2012 at 9:58 am

    Thanks for the tip! All of my children are grown and I can’t eat the berries before some appear with mold on them. Can’t wait to try this.

    Reply
  25. Moreen Clifford says

    April 21, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    I do the white paper towel trick with fresh mushrooms,and they last twice as long.

    Reply
    • Brooke says

      February 7, 2013 at 4:09 pm

      Can you share that trick please?!

      Reply
      • Tabitha says

        May 16, 2013 at 5:00 pm

        Rinse your mushrooms and repackage them with a paper towel underneath.

        Reply
    • Lesley Imre says

      June 17, 2013 at 6:34 pm

      You can rinse an put kitchen towel under most fruits that you keep in the fridge, they last much longer and stay fresh.. The Same with fresh herbs- wrap them in kitchen towel and sprinkle water over, roll up and pop them back in the bag and they last for over a week..

      Reply
  26. Mary says

    April 21, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    Tried this 2 weeks ago today with 2 qts of strawberries. It worked perfectly!!!! Ate the final handful of berries today, and they were still good!! Followed directions, even leaving in an uncovered bowl. Thank you so much for this post!!

    Reply
  27. Jaclyn says

    April 20, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    Tried it this week… didn’t let them dry completely because it was 10pm and I wanted to go to bed, but I did cut the greens off, quartered them, and put them in my Pyrex and they are still going strong. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  28. Pat Chubb says

    April 14, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    Another use for the ever popular white vinegar…who knew??

    Reply
  29. Elena says

    April 13, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    Just brought strawberries this afternoon. I am going to try this.

    Reply

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Hey there... it's so nice to meet you! I'm Heidi: a Frugal Girl living in sunny Arizona! I love sharing Easy Recipes, DIY Decor, Style & Beauty Hacks, Gardening Tips, Travel Hacks, and Creative Ways to Live the Sweet Life on a Budget. I'm so glad you're here!
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