How to Clean Berries

Summer berry season is precious and fleeting. It can be pricey, too, particularly if you’re buying good-quality organic berries. So it pays to take care of those beloved reds and blues.

Here’s how:

1. Store berries loosely covered in a single layer in the refrigerator. Keeping them in their small, plastic “clamshell” containers is a good option as well since it allows for ventilation.
2. Wait to wash berries until just before eating. If you’re just having a handful, only wash that handful. Most berries are porous and absorb water, which hastens the development of mold. They will last longer if you keep them dry.
3. Wash berries by putting them into a colander and rinsing gently with water. A sink spray nozzle is ideal.
4. Avoid piling a large amoung of berries into a deep bowl. They are delicate and will fare better in a shallow bowl so the ones on the bottom don’t get crushed.

Most berries only last a couple of days so use them up while you can. If your kids are anything like mine, this won’t be much of a problem. Berries in our house usually get gobbled up before I can even get them into the fridge.

Side note: Keep in mind that frozen berries, such as frozen raspberries and wild blueberries, are an excellent option too and measure up well nutritionally when compared to fresh