The Absolute Best Way To Store Raspberries
A versatile and flavor-packed snack, raspberries are one of those fruits that scream (or gently emanate) summer. From providing some of the sweetest jams to adding a ruby-colored glaze to chicken wings, they give any dish they're added to a pop of color.
Since its growing season starts in late Spring and lasts only to the end of Summer, the window to enjoy a fresh pick of this fruit is small. And once it's picked and packed, the fragile berry is very finicky all on its own, too (via Saveur). If you find yourself frustrated with keeping these healthy red berries fresh (attempting to gobble them all up the day you buy them), you're far from alone. Not all hope is lost, however. You can still have beautiful raspberries ready to go in the fridge whenever you want. The key is in how you store them. To prevent yourself from crying over fragmented raspberry shells, learn the absolute best way to store your raspberries.
Start by picking the right bunch
The very first step toward perfectly stored raspberries is, of course, learning to pick the right ones. The batch you choose could truly make or break the storage process. Raspberries are picked from their stems when they are at peak ripeness. This means that they have a short shelf life compared to other fruits (via HGTV). For this reason, you need to be extra diligent when inspecting your chosen pack of berries at the store, as they might already be going bad before you get home. Inspect the bottom of its package and look for bold red colors and firm textures to pick a good batch.
If you follow the signs and scout out those perfectly ripe berries, your flavor-packed fruits can last well beyond their small two to three day window to a week or even more. That is, if they're stored properly and you're careful to avoid other ways of ruining your fruits.
If you think you won't need to use your raspberries until a later time, simply freezing them is a smart option (via Food & Wine). But for the ultimate form of fruit storage, a simple rinsing method can leave your raspberries in perfect condition and will help them stay fresh for a much longer period.
The lowdown on storing your raspberries
Now that you've bought the right berries, it's time to store them. To freeze your berries, wash them as normal, then place them on a cookie sheet so they don't overlap. Store them in your freezer until frozen. From there you can transfer them to a small, tight-sealed bag and this way, frozen raspberries should hold for up to a year (via HGTV). This method works really well for frozen delights like a raspberry smoothie because the frozen fruit can give the blend a thicker texture. But if it's fresh, ready-to-eat berries you're after, here's the absolute best way to store them.
Try this fool-proof rinsing method recommended by Driscoll's. To start, get your freshly-bought berries out of the fridge and wash them in a vinegar and water solution (or whatever method you prefer to wash fruit.) Be sure to pick out any bad berries in the process as they can negatively affect the others. After a few seconds in the mixture, dry the berries and place them in a breathable container with a paper towel on the bottom to soak up any moisture. Then, stick the berries on an open shelf in your fridge. Since most vegetable drawers will be too cold for raspberries, stick them somewhere near the front. This will also be helpful as you won't forget about them in the back of your refrigerator.