Nothing is worse than craving juicy strawberries and finding them rotting in your fridge after buying them a few days ago. Strawberry preservation can be difficult, whether you want to use them to top shortcake, create jam, or enjoy their messiness as juice runs down your chin.
With so many ways to store fruits to stay fresh, it can be hard to remember which guideline applies to which fruit. Should bananas be refrigerated? Wash all store-bought fruit at home? Bowl type affects fruit freshness. There are several ways to keep strawberries fresh, but cinnamon sticks are the best.
Cinnamaldehyde and eugenol in cinnamon destroy the gray mold infection that leaves strawberries bland and unpleasant. Organic farms tackle fungal infections with cinnamon extracts.
Add a few cinnamon sticks to your strawberry container before refrigerating to let this spice work its magic. Although this won't impact the strawberries' flavor, you can sprinkle cinnamon on top and it will work just as well.
More strawberry preservation methods Strawberry mold can be prevented with cinnamon sticks, but there are other effective methods. Your method depends on when you'll use them. Avoid washing berries you'll consume within a few days.
Always preserve them dry because moisture decays them. Wash strawberries right before using. They can be stored for two weeks by soaking in 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water and drying thoroughly.
To absorb moisture, store them on paper towels. Flat containers let berries breathe and stretch out. Airtight containers retain moisture, which breeds bacteria. Find a container with holes or a loose lid for airflow.
Basil, bay leaves, cloves, and nutmeg provide mold-fighting eugenol like cinnamon, so they keep strawberries fresh too. Basil has a strong taste that can overwhelm the strawberries, so place it next to them if you don't want them to absorb the flavor (although it makes a nice combo).