The Best Way To Store Strawberries So They Stay Fresh Longer

The Internet is filled with videos offering hacks for storing everything from apples to zucchini. Strawberries are no exception. While commonly sold in baskets or plastic clamshell containers, online pundits claim you can ditch the original packaging and literally add weeks to how long your strawberries will last in the fridge. But are they right?  We spoke to experts to find out if storing strawberries in Mason jars, washing strawberries in a vinegar solution, or storing them with paper towels really are the secrets to long life (if you’re a strawberry, anyway).

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Elizabeth Mitcham is a Professor of Cooperative Extension at the University of California, Davis and the Center Director at the Postharvest Technology Center.
• Leah Sarris is a spokesperson for the California Strawberry Commission.

How To Store Strawberries For The Short Term

According to the FDA, you should store perishable fresh fruits including strawberries in a tidy refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F or below. Dr. Mitcham says that storing strawberries in the crisper drawer is the best way. In addition, if you can control the humidity of the crisper drawer, set it high for strawberries. 

Caitlin Bensel

3 Tips For Storing Strawberries In The Refrigerator

• Don’t wash strawberries before storing. According to Dr. Mitcham, you shouldn’t wash strawberries before storing them because moisture will promote fungal growth. 
• Store in the clamshell. If your strawberries came in a plastic clamshell, that’s the perfect storage container because it allows for some humidity. Those green plastic baskets have keen edges and can bruise berries. 
• Plan to employ the strawberries in a few days. Strawberries are best when fresh so keep them nippy and remove any berries that develop mold.

Caitlin Bensel

Do Strawberries Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes. Unless you are planning on eating them in the next hour or so, they should be refrigerated to preserve freshness.

How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Refrigerator?

Experts say you should plan to employ them within a week. If you want to keep them longer, freeze them.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should you store strawberries in a Mason-style jar?

  No. According to Sarris, while it’s probably meant to prevent moisture, it can also trap moisture. She wouldn’t recommend it because it’s awkward to get them out and piling them on top of each other is more likely to bruise them. Mitcham adds that strawberries do benefit from some carbon dioxide to reduce fungal growth, so if you have a container that lets oxygen out, that’s worthwhile.

• Will washing strawberries with a vinegar solution aid preserve them?

  According to Mitcham, some research has been done on this subject and while there is some efficacy, there isn’t a lot. It won’t remove enough bacteria to prevent you from getting diseased and the research was done with straight vinegar, not what you get at the supermarket (which has even lower acidity). She also shares that washing in vinegar has no impact on fungi and that most fungal infections are below the surface anyway, so you won’t be able to eradicate them with vinegar or anything else topical.

• Will storing strawberries with paper towels make a difference?

  Probably not. According to Mitcham, the main reason paper towels can be helpful is to avoid excess moisture, which shouldn’t be an issue if you’re keeping them desiccated and not washing them until using them.