How to Clean Strawberries: 2 Tips for Washing Strawberries
About 48 million people get sick every year from eating food that has been in contact with bacteria or germs that could potentially be dangerous to the human body. Since strawberries are one of the most popular fresh fruits to enjoy in different seasons, we want to show you the best options to clean them to ensure they’re safe for consumption.
What you should know before washing fresh strawberries:
-
After buying the strawberries at the market, it’s advisable to cool them to 32°F to 34°F to stop any possible growth of larvae and eggs.
- Do not wash the strawberries or remove their stems until they’re ready to be eaten.
- Avoid leaving them soaking or wet because strawberries act like sponges. They absorb water and this, in turn, will speed up the deterioration process.
How to clean fresh strawberries:
Method 1: Wash strawberries with water
Step 1
Before you start washing, select the strawberries you want to eat. You can hold them in your hands or place them in a strainer to wash them all together, but only wash the ones you’re going to eat.
Step 2
Wash the strawberries with clean, cold water from the sink. Be sure to toss them a bit so that they get thoroughly washed and you’re able to remove any remaining dirt.
Step 3
Remove any excess moisture by placing the strawberries on a dry surface, like on a clean cloth or kitchen towel, and pat them dry.
Method 2: Clean strawberries by using a mix of vinegar and water
Step 1
Mix 3 cups of water and 1 cup of white vinegar. This mixture will help eliminate bacteria and mold spores, which will keep the strawberries from spoiling.
Step 2
Soak the strawberries in the water and vinegar mixture and wash.
Step 3
Place the strawberries in a strainer and rinse under running water to remove the remains of the vinegar.
Step 4
Remove any excess moisture by using a paper towel, a clean cloth, or by placing the clean strawberries in a dry strainer to let the vinegar and water mixture drain away.
Other tips for cleaning fresh strawberries
- If there isn’t any vinegar in your home, you can use baking soda instead to wash your strawberries. Simply soak the strawberries for 5 minutes in a cleaning solution made with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 4 cups of water. Then, rinse the strawberries thoroughly using cold running water and finally pat them until completely dry.
- You can also use a saltwater rinse to get rid of any fly larvae that could be on the inside of your strawberries. Make a cleaning solution by dissolving 1 teaspoon of sea salt in 1 cup of warm water. Then, let the water cool and soak your strawberries in the solution for 5 minutes. After that, rinse the fruit thoroughly and pat it until dry.
- Wash your hands before touching fresh fruit or vegetables to avoid contaminating them.
- As you wash your strawberries, remove any fruit that has bruises, or that is moldy or mushy, as this is an indicator that they are overripe. Only keep the ones that don’t have these characteristics.
It’s no secret that fresh strawberries are delicious and make a great and healthy option when you want a snack. Do you know of any other methods you can use to clean strawberries? What’s your favorite strawberry-based preparation? Tell us in the comments.