Bought too many blueberries from the farmer market?
Don’t panic; we’re here to help you extend the shelf life of your fresh berries.
How to store blueberries? When trying to keep your blueberries fresh, focus on four preservation concepts: low to no moisture, air circulation, prevention of growing mold, and proper storage preparations. With these four concepts in mind, you can have year-round access to healthy and delicious blueberries.
How do you make blueberries last longer?
Blueberries are a very healthy fruit packed with antioxidants and phytochemicals.
The problem is, as your fresh berries diminish in quality, so do the benefits attributed to all its healthy composition.
We have outlined details of the following concepts for a better understanding of each.
Stop Growing Mold
An excellent way to make blueberries last longer is to pick off and dispose of berries with growing mold.
Mold spores can quickly transfer from one berry to another and can end up spoiling the whole bunch.
Low to No Moisture
Another way to keep blueberries fresh for a longer time is to avoid washing them right after bringing them home.
Water and moisture can be the culprits that grow mold spores on your beautiful and succulent blueberries.
Only wash berries you need precisely when you are ready to eat them.
Air Circulation or Ventilation
To make blueberries last longer, keep the berries dry and with proper air circulation.
Avoid using metal or airtight containers when storing blueberries in the fridge.
These containers will speed up the spoiling process, and you will have hard-to-remove stains.
On the other hand, you would want to use airtight containers when storing them in the freezer.
Proper Storage Preparations
Keeping your blueberries dry, mold-free, and with enough ventilation should be enough to keep them fresh.
However, if you are persistent about having your blueberries cleaned before storage, rinse and dry them thoroughly.
A salad spinner should do the trick if you have one.
The following section outlines all the steps from pre-storage preparation, washing, and storage in the fridge.
Steps on How to Store Blueberries (Fridge)
The best way to keep your blueberries fresh is to store them in the fridge, where they can last for up to two weeks with proper storage.
Follow these steps when storing blueberries in the fridge.
Step 1. Scan for attached stems and moldy berries and then ditch them.
You can find white, fuzzy mold spores around the stems or where they used to be.
Lay down your berries on a tray lined with paper towels.
Gently scan for stems still attached, as well as moldy and wilted berries.
Dispose of the stems and each moldy or wilted berries immediately.
Step 2. If you choose to wash those berries, use a light mixture of white vinegar and water.
The vinegar infused in the water bath can kill off most, if not all, of the mold spores, which are invisible to the naked eye.
Make a mixture of one part white vinegar and three parts cold water.
Transfer the berries into a strainer and gently dip and shake them under the mixture.
To rinse off the taste of vinegar, pour another batch of cold water over the berries in the strainer.
Step 3. Dry your berries thoroughly.
Storing wet and moist berries can be a recipe for disaster, so be sure to dry them prior.
Line a salad spinner with a paper towel and put in your washed berries inside.
Gently toss the berries inside the spinner until the paper towel absorbs all of the moisture.
If you don’t have a salad spinner, lay down your washed berries in a single layer and wait for them to air dry.
You can use a fan to speed up the drying process.
Step 4. Choose the right container for your berries.
The right containers for your blueberries are breathable containers lined with paper towels.
A small woven basket or a ceramic bowl with slits are both excellent choices that can provide adequate ventilation.
To store them, put some paper towels on the bottom of the container first.
Then, gently put the blueberries on top of the paper towels.
Step 5. Store them in a part of the fridge with enough air circulation.
Always consider that not all refrigerators and chillers are the same, and not every area inside offers adequate air circulation.
The crisper drawer is the worst place to store your blueberries.
Aside from having very little to zero ventilation, the crisper drawer induces faster moisture accumulation around your berries.
Check your blueberries regularly. Continue removing and throwing away berries that start growing mold.
Other Ways to Store
You can also decide to store blueberries at room temperature for immediate consumption or in the freezer for long-term storage.
Plastic Container
For room temperature storage, any plastic container with slits or holes can keep your blueberries well-ventilated.
When freezing, however, choose airtight plastic containers instead.
Storage Box
Any carton storage box with poked holes can help air out blueberries for immediate consumption and before storage in the fridge.
The carton storage box can absorb the moisture and quickly dry the blueberries.
However, before storing in the fridge or freezer, transfer your blueberries from the carton box to a plastic container.
Using the carton box inside the fridge will soak up all the moisture and cause the blueberries to rot.
Freezer
Blueberries are available at grocery stores because of the preservation wonders that any freezer can offer.
If you have fresh blueberries, prepare them for freezing if you want to store them for even longer periods.
To do this, simply follow these steps:
Step 1. Lay a baking sheet on top of a tray.
Step 2. Spread out your blueberries on the baking sheet in a single layer.
Step 3. Put the tray inside the freezer, and let the berries freeze for at least two hours.
Step 4. Remove the berries from the freezer tray and toss them into a sealable plastic bag or airtight container.
Step 5. Put the bag or the container with blueberries back into the freezer.
How long do blueberries last?
Blueberries can spoil in just a few days if you keep them at room temperature.
However, if you store them in the fridge, they can last between seven to 10 days.
Frozen blueberries can keep optimum quality for up to eight months, but you can store them in the freezer and still be edible for up to a year.
Conclusion
When buying blueberries, you will have to decide which portions to store for immediate consumption and long-term storage.
Keeping this in mind will take out the hassle of transferring your blueberries from container to container only to end up having so much spoilage.
Learning how to store your blueberries properly can maximize the health benefits you can get from each freshly kept blueberry.
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