How to clean strawberries thoroughly and keep them fresh in the fridge for days
Strawberries are fruit you can almost always expect to be in abundance at your local grocery store.But as much as stores handle and process strawberries and other fresh produce, you still need to wash and clean them thoroughly when you bring them home.
This is particularly important with cases of cyclosporiasis rising in the United States.The illness, caused by a parasite (cyclospora) contracted from eating feces found on produce like lettuce, apples and, yes, strawberries, has severe symptoms including digestive issues like diarrhea.To avoid the risk of cyclosporiasis and to extend the shelf life of strawberries, I spoke to experts, including microbiologists and culinary instructors, to find the best way to clean strawberries and the most effective products to help do it.
RelatedselectedselectedBeast blender review: A sleek, reliable appliance for creamy smoothies and dipsWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.The best way to clean strawberries, according to expertsWhile contracting an illness from eating fruit is a serious matter, it doesn’t mean you have to cut out all fruit.Washing your produce properly can help you avoid issues and, as a bonus, make your fruit last longer.
There are a few different cleaning methods you can adopt for strawberries, which I outline in detail below based on advice I received from experts.Sort through the unwashed strawberries and toss out any that are visibly bruised, spoiled or moldy.If you aren’t eating your strawberries right away or using them in a recipe, keep them in the ventilated container they came in or transfer them to a food storage container that’s specifically designed to keep produce fresh.When you’re ready to use or eat your strawberries, get a large glass bowl and a colander or fine-mesh sieve.Set the sieve or colander in the bowl and add the strawberries.
Add one part distilled white vinegar to three parts cool water (for example: 1 cup vinegar and 3 c...