While growing strawberries is considered very simple compared to other fruits, it can still be easy for them to start becoming mushy and bruised if they have been stored for too long, making them pretty unpleasant to eat when they’re ready to serve.
If you do begin to notice that your strawberries are starting to look a little ‘sad’ and aren’t as full or colorful as they would normally be, the good news is that you can easily ‘revive’ them back to full health, and not only is it easy to do, but it takes up barely any time at all.
You can even use this method for multiple strawberries at once, so it’s well worth learning so that your strawberries can be at their juiciest for when it’s time to tuck in.
Here is the most effective method for reviving strawberries and what signs you should look out for to know when they might need a quick pick-me-up.
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How To Know If Strawberries Need To Be Revived?
After you harvest multiple strawberries at one time, it can be a little too easy to place them all in the refrigerator and leave them there for multiple days until you feel like using them as part of a recipe or a fruity smoothie down the line.
The only issue with doing this is that strawberries have been in the refrigerator for more than a week. They will slowly begin breaking down and losing a lot of their potency.
The easiest way you can tell that this is beginning to happen is when mushy spots start to appear around the surface of the strawberries.
The leaves will also begin looking withered, and the fruit’s red color will be a lot duller and nowhere near as bright as it was when you first picked it out. Brown bruises are another common sign that the strawberry needs revitalization.
The Best Way To Revive Strawberries
While there are many different methods for reviving strawberries that have been suggested by gardeners and farmers across the internet, there is one specific solution that has been proven to work the best. It is also one of the quicker methods compared to many others.
All you have to do is collect all the ‘sad’ strawberries from your refrigerator and place them in a small bucket full of ice for between 20 and 30 minutes.
You might already know this trick since it is also commonly used to revive wilted greens and certain types of vegetables. Still, it also works remarkably well with strawberries, restoring them back to their bright and beautiful red appearance in no time.
This works because strawberries are porous on their surface, meaning they can absorb liquid incredibly quickly, so by placing them in a bath of refreshing ice water, you’re filling them back up, making them stronger and much nicer to snack on.
Remember when using this method that you should always try to avoid soaking the strawberries in the ice water for more than 20 minutes; otherwise, it can fill the strawberries with too much water, which can dilute the sweetness of the juice.
Will This Method Work For Moldy Strawberries?
The ice bucket method only works for strawberries that are beginning to break down and have become weathered over time, so it won’t work for strawberries that have actually gone bad.
Therefore, if you notice any mold on your strawberries, even if it’s just a small amount, you won’t be able to make them edible again by popping them into an ice bath, so you will simply need to throw them away.
Ways To Make Strawberries Last Longer
The ice bucket method is a lifesaver in preventing strawberries from turning bad and keeping them as fresh as possible while you wait to use them for a certain occasion. Still, you don’t want to repeat this solution all the time.
Instead, you should use it as a way to rejuvenate some of the weaker-looking strawberries, but also take steps to ensure that all of your bright red fruits remain healthy and edible for as long as possible. The good news is there are more than a few ways of doing this.
One tip is to wash the strawberries only when you’re about to eat them.
Many people will splash them in water before placing them in a container, and while this can get rid of any lingering dirt or residue, it also means that there will be more moisture in the container, which can cause them to go moldy a lot quicker.
Always remember that strawberries will remain at their freshest when they are dry and cold, so pre-washing them won’t do you any favors.
Added to this point, you will also want to ensure that you place a paper towel at the bottom of your container before placing it in the strawberries. This is so that the towel can absorb any extra moisture to ensure that no molding occurs.
Finally, suppose you want your strawberries to last a few days longer than a week and potentially up to two weeks. In that case, you can bathe them in a jug of vinegar before letting them dry completely on a paper towel and then placing them in the refrigerator.
The vinegar will destroy all hints of harmful bacteria, ensuring they remain fresh for as long as possible.
Final Thoughts
Reviving weaker-looking strawberries can be done incredibly easily. While you won’t be able to do it continuously repeatedly to keep strawberries fresh, it is a great pick-me-up for a one-off occasion when you want to breathe some life into your fruit.
Since strawberries are supposed to be full of juice and a delight to bite into, you will always want them to be at their sweetest.
With that being said, if you ever notice some of the clear symptoms appearing on your strawberries, simply give them a quick ice bath, and they’ll be fully rejuvenated and healthy again in no time.
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