Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

On Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:40:37 -0600, geronimo
wrote:

Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?


Keep them dry, more air circulation around them. Wash them just
before eating.

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

geronimo wrote:
Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?


Strawberries are extremely susceptible to mold which is really evident
in the home garden if you've ever tried to grow them.

In California they (do or used to) tent the entire field before planting
and pump in a gas to kill all the mold spores. This helped to keep the
berries mold-free while they were growing, but as soon s they are picked
the mold process begins. It also makes anyone who gets exposed to it
quite sick, if not worse.

I think part of the problem at least is that when they are moved from
place to place at slightly different temperatures (field, packing house,
refrigerated truck, store cooler, store sales area) the inside of the
carton develops condensation which provides a good place for mold growth.

You might get a few more days from them if you wash, slice, and sugar
them lightly. Or spread them out on paper towels or napkins to absorb
some of the condensation.

Otherwise, buy only what you and your family can eat in 2-3 days and
carefully pick out any that might be showing mold.

gloria p

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

"PhoenixWench" wrote in message
...
geronimo wrote:
Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?
Mold - it's in the soil and unavoidable, but there is a way to keep
spoilage to a minimum - give it a (brief) hot bath. I just got a link to
this NY Times article on this very subject earlier today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/dining/26curi.html


That method requires enough time and labor to make berry eating a chore
rather than a pleasure. I found that the shelf life of delicate fruit can
be extended by the addition of citrus, fresh lemon juice works well. Or use
some Cointreau or some good Balsamico Traditionale. The best way to ensure
that strawberries don't hang around long enough to spoil is to mix up a big
batch of whipped cream, and/or melt a big bowlful of good chocolate.

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

I grew up helping run a pick your own strawberry farm. As someone who
also just lost almost an ENTIRE batch of store bought berries to mold, I'm
also interested in this.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned what is probably the most
efficient way to have your berries last longer - grow your own. The main
reason why strawberries from the store mold so fast is that they have
already been off of the plant for some time - perhaps 2 or even 3 days -
before you buy them. Strawberries are not known for lasting that long in
storage anyway, so by the time you have them in the fridge for 2 days, they
could be 5 days old already. Pick your own fresh fruits, and they will
probably last twice as long or more, and also be tastier - since they will
be more ripe when picked.

You said you don't want to consider freezing. Have you considered drying
them? I have cut up strawberries, plus made fruit leather with a convection
oven. It is very tasty, and lasts for years. You could also can the fruit.

If you want store bought for fresh eating, then I second the idea
presented earlier about cutting them up, and sloshing around some of that
lemon juice concentrate on the pieces, or even mashing them a bit and adding
lemon juice. The acidity will inhibit mold growth, and then you can add a
bit of sugar if you want when eating them.

Of course, canning is also an option, but they tend to lose some texture
from the high heat involved. Freezing is often a good option.

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

On Aug 28, 1:42*pm, Gloria P wrote:
geronimo wrote:
Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. *Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?

Strawberries are extremely susceptible to mold which is really evident
in the home garden if you've ever tried to grow them.

In California they (do or used to) tent the entire field before planting
and pump in a gas to kill all the mold spores. *This helped to keep the
berries mold-free while they were growing, but as soon s they are picked
the mold process begins. *It also makes anyone who gets exposed to it
quite sick, if not worse.

I think part of the problem at least is that when they are moved from
place to place at slightly different temperatures (field, packing house,
refrigerated truck, store cooler, store sales area) the inside of the
carton develops condensation which provides a good place for mold growth.

You might get a few more days from them if you wash, slice, and sugar
them lightly. *Or spread them out on paper towels or napkins to absorb
some of the condensation.

Otherwise, buy only what you and your family can eat in 2-3 days and
carefully pick out any that might be showing mold.

gloria p

Having been through enough spoiled strawberries, I also do as Gloria
suggests; slice
'em up pronto. But I put on lemon juice from my tree, and sweeten
with maple syrup.
Makes delicious juice.

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

In the fwiw department;
Strawberries stored in the refrigerator unwashed inside a vacuumed container
such as "FoodSaver" will (often) last for several days.
Ken.
"Higgs Boson" wrote in message
...
On Aug 28, 1:42 pm, Gloria P wrote:
geronimo wrote:
Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?

Strawberries are extremely susceptible to mold which is really evident
in the home garden if you've ever tried to grow them.

In California they (do or used to) tent the entire field before planting
and pump in a gas to kill all the mold spores. This helped to keep the
berries mold-free while they were growing, but as soon s they are picked
the mold process begins. It also makes anyone who gets exposed to it
quite sick, if not worse.

I think part of the problem at least is that when they are moved from
place to place at slightly different temperatures (field, packing house,
refrigerated truck, store cooler, store sales area) the inside of the
carton develops condensation which provides a good place for mold growth.

You might get a few more days from them if you wash, slice, and sugar
them lightly. Or spread them out on paper towels or napkins to absorb
some of the condensation.

Otherwise, buy only what you and your family can eat in 2-3 days and
carefully pick out any that might be showing mold.

gloria p

Having been through enough spoiled strawberries, I also do as Gloria
suggests; slice
'em up pronto. But I put on lemon juice from my tree, and sweeten
with maple syrup.
Makes delicious juice.

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

"Kenneth D. Schillinger" wrote in message
om...
In the fwiw department;
Strawberries stored in the refrigerator unwashed inside a vacuumed
container such as "FoodSaver" will (often) last for several days.
Ken.
"Higgs Boson" wrote in message
...
On Aug 28, 1:42 pm, Gloria P wrote:
geronimo wrote:
Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?

Strawberries are extremely susceptible to mold which is really evident
in the home garden if you've ever tried to grow them.

In California they (do or used to) tent the entire field before planting
and pump in a gas to kill all the mold spores. This helped to keep the
berries mold-free while they were growing, but as soon s they are picked
the mold process begins. It also makes anyone who gets exposed to it
quite sick, if not worse.

I think part of the problem at least is that when they are moved from
place to place at slightly different temperatures (field, packing house,
refrigerated truck, store cooler, store sales area) the inside of the
carton develops condensation which provides a good place for mold growth.

You might get a few more days from them if you wash, slice, and sugar
them lightly. Or spread them out on paper towels or napkins to absorb
some of the condensation.

Otherwise, buy only what you and your family can eat in 2-3 days and
carefully pick out any that might be showing mold.

gloria p

Having been through enough spoiled strawberries, I also do as Gloria
suggests; slice
'em up pronto. But I put on lemon juice from my tree, and sweeten
with maple syrup.
Makes delicious juice.

I can't imagine maple being a good flavor combo with lemon, or strawberry...
I think honey would be a much better choice, but even honey doesn't work
well with strawberry.... light brown sugar, maybe. I think plain white
sugar works best to let the strawberry flavor shine through, those other
powerful flavors would smother it. Fresh lemon juice and white sugar with a
splash of cointreau would probably work best for macerating strawberries.

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/di...tml?ref=dining
try this

On Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:40:37 -0600, geronimo wrote:

Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?
Somewhere between zone 5 and 6 tucked along the shore of Lake Michigan
on the council grounds of the Fox, Mascouten, Potawatomi, and Winnebago

Keeping strawberries fresh longer?
 

geronimo wrote:
Strawberries for some reason only last perhaps 4 days max in the
refrigerator. Sometimes its 2 days, if you didn't get very fresh ones
to begin with. Then they start growing a whitish mold. What is it,
and can you do something (other than freezing) to prevent the growth
of this mold?

If you get your strawberries from Aldi in Australia they seemed to be
genetically or something modified to stay as hard as a rock for weeks
even after they start to go off

I grew up helping run a pick your own strawberry farm. As someone who Only lost almost a whole batch of store bought moldy berries, and I also interested in this.

That adjustment requires abundant time and activity to accomplish drupe bistro a chore rather than a pleasure. I begin that the shelf activity of aerial bake-apple can be continued by the accession of citrus, beginning auto abstract works well. Or use some Cointreau or some acceptable Balsamic Traditional.

The best way to keep your strawberries fresher for a longer period of time is by placing the good strawberries in the refrigerator in layers separated by paper towels inside a plastic container or sealed bag. This works great for short term storage- up to 3 days.

For anything longer than that, the strawberries will need to be frozen in a sealed plastic bag.

Keep in mind that it is not good to wash the strawberries before refrigerating them. Just wash them when you are ready to eat them.

That's just like farm eggs. You're not supposed to wash them til you use them either.

I like strawberries very much, but also have the same problem. Study much at this article.