Strawberries are delicious summer snacks, and with Wimbledon kicking off this week, more and more people across the UK will be eating them. The sweet, juicy berries are perfect on their own or added to desserts, but there’s one drawback – they can be a nightmare to keep fresh.
Because they have such a high moisture content, they’re notorious for going mushy very soon after you buy them. But instead of constantly throwing them away, it’s good to learn how to actually store them properly. Not only will this prolong the lifespan of your berries, but it’ll save you money too.
One simple storage tip was shared on TikTok by mum Michelle, also known as Seven Days of Play, who often posts easy hacks to make life easier as a parent or just someone with a busy schedule.
Grabbing a container of strawberries from the fridge, she said: “This is how we store our fruit so that it lasts a couple of weeks.”
Given that strawberries usually only last a few days maximum before going mouldy or mushy, this method extends their lifespan significanty – and it’s so easy to do.
How to store strawberries
First, give your strawberries a rinse under the tap, then lay them out on a kitchen towel before patting them dry completely. Michelle said: “To make this an easy to grab snack for the kids, I cut the stems off. But I know a lot of people store them with the stems on because they think it will last longer.”
She highlighted that they last ‘totally fine’ even when the stems are cut off, and they will even last a ‘really long time’ if they’re diced up too.
Then, take a jar with a lid and lay a piece of kitchen roll at the base. Fill up the jar with your strawberries before placing another sheet of kitchen roll on top, and screw on the lid.
Referring to the paper towels, Michelle said: “That is to absorb the moisture.” Because this is what makes fruit go mushy so fast, absorbing it will help to fix this problem.
She continued: “Seal it, and it’s ready to go in the fridge. I do this with most of my vegetables too.”
