Keep Berries From Becoming Moldy And Gross

How To Keep Berries From Getting Moldy And Gross

By Vanessa Greaves

Fresh berries have two major enemies: mold and moisture. Here’s how to fight them off in 2 easy steps so you can enjoy your berries longer with far less wastage. Money saved!

Fresh berries should be washed and dried to kill mold spores before storing in the fridge.

Everyone says you shouldn’t wash berries until just before you eat them because moisture shortens their shelf life. But the truth is, berries carry mold spores that cause them to go bad very quickly. And that mold can spread through a whole basket of berries in a flash. Good news: You can easily kill off mold and bacteria with a quick vinegar and water bath, then dry off the berries before they go in the fridge. Here’s how to do it.

1. Vinegar Bath to Kill Mold

After discarding any berries that show even a bit of mold, put 3 cups cold water and 1 cup white vinegar in a large bowl or salad spinner.

Make a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts cold water.

Immerse berries and swish around for about a minute.

Washing blueberries in the vinegar water bath.

Drain berries, then rinse with clean, cold water until any trace of vinegar aroma or taste is gone.

Rinse the blueberries in cold water.

Spread out rinsed berries on clean cloth or paper towels, and pat and roll lightly with towels to dry them well.

Drying off washed and rinsed berries.

2. Anti-Moisture Storage

If your berries came in a ventilated plastic clamshell-type package, wash it with soap and hot water, rinse and dry, then line it with a dry paper towel. Put the clean, dry berries back in the clamshell and store them in the fridge. Make sure to leave ventilation holes in the top uncovered so air can circulate in the package. Otherwise, store the berries in a clean container lined with paper towels, with the lid ajar so condensation can evaporate. Change the paper towels if they get damp over time.

Washed and dried berries in small containers lined with paper towels, ready for the fridge.

When I was researching this kitchen tip, I read where people were worried about the berries tasting like vinegar after their bath. I can tell you from experience that they don’t. I used plain white vinegar and didn’t let the berries sit in the bath for more than a couple of minutes. It didn’t take much rinsing before I couldn’t smell even a hint of vinegar, and I never tasted any.

Notes

• This method works best for firm berries like strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Fragile raspberries should get the classic “rinse right before eating” treatment with just plain water.
• The vinegar bath won’t “cure” very moldy berries; it’s best to pick those out and discard them right away.
• Berries that are super-ripe to begin with should be eaten within a couple of days

Here are some great recipes to enjoy during berry season.


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