STRAWBERRIES are one of the nation’s best-loved fruits – especially in summer.
Whether added to cereal, blended into smoothies, or eaten straight from the punnet, they’re a popular staple in many UK households.
And with UK temperatures set to soar this month, we can expect more punnets of strawberries to be purchased from the supermarket over the next few weeks.
But despite their popularity, the fruit’s shelf life is short-lived, often spoiling within just a couple of days of purchase.
This unwelcome mould and mushiness mean many of us are forced to throw them out before we’ve had the chance to enjoy them – wasting both money and food.
But now, one expert has revealed a surprisingly simple and cheap trick that can extend the life of your strawberries by several days.
The best part? You probably already have what you need sitting in your kitchen cupboard. And if not, it only costs 35p in the likes of Tesco.
Storage expert Elizabeth Adams, fromUrbanLocker.co.uk,says a small bottle of white vinegar could be the key to making your strawberries last longer.
“Strawberries tend to spoil quickly because of surface mould and bacteria that thrive in humid conditions,”; she explains.
“Even if they look fresh in the shop, they often come into contact with tiny amounts of mould during the packaging and handling process, which accelerates the spoilage once you get them home.”;
To combat this, Elizabeth recommends giving your strawberries a quick vinegar bath before storing them.
She says: “All you need to do is mix one part white vinegar with three parts water.
“Soak your strawberries in the solution for about five minutes, then rinse them thoroughly under cold water and dry them completely.
“The vinegar kills off most of the bacteria and mould spores that cause the fruit to go bad so quickly.”;
Once washed and dried, you will need to store the strawberries in a paper towel-lined container with the lid slightly ajar.
This allows for a little airflow and prevents moisture from building up which is another common cause of early spoilage.
“It’s a simple trick, but it really works,”; insists Elizabeth.
“Done properly, this method can help keep your strawberries fresh for up to a week and sometimes even longer, depending on how ripe they were when you bought them.”;
While many people assume vinegar might affect the taste, Elizabeth reassures that it doesn’t.
“As long as you rinse them thoroughly after the soak, you won’t taste the vinegar at all”;, she says.
“You’re just left with fresh, clean strawberries that stay in good condition far longer than they would otherwise.”;
In a time when the cost of living continues to climb, finding ways to make your food last longer is more important than ever.
Small hacks like this one can prevent waste, reduce supermarket trips, and stretch your food budget further.
