Choosing Strawberries

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

21 Aug 2007 01:24 PM

Yummy, yummy strawberries. Who can resist the plump sweetness of a great strawberry. There is nothing like this great fruit when it is ripe and perfect. Enjoy them with chocolate, with cream, or in one of the many great recipes here in the Food Blog.

But, one of the things about strawberries is that when they go wrong, they go very wrong. From tough bitter berries to rotten moldy berries, you could be in for a nasty surprise if you aren't careful. And strawberries have some special concerns when it comes to choosing where and how the strawberries are grown.

Here are some practical tips about choosing the best strawberries.

Strawberries reportedly have the highest concentration of pesticides of all domestically grown fruit. So, if you are concerned about that fact, you might want to go organic. Also, local strawberries generally have the sweetest flavor, since they are not specifically bred for travel, so it makes sense to buy local strawberries when you can. In general, the local season will last between three and four weeks.

When shopping for strawberries take a good sniff. Fragrant berries are a good sign of freshness and ripeness. Choose strawberries that are plump, firm, bright, with no signs of bruising or mold. Mold spreads quickly, so one moldy berry will spoil the entire batch in a sort time. Since strawberries won't ripen after they are harvested, avoid any strawberries that are green or white. Look for fresh green caps and pass over any strawberries that are missing their caps. Dry berries are best. Medium to small strawberries have the best flavor.

Store your strawberries in a colander in the refrigerator. This will allow air to circulate for longer lasting strawberries. Or, slice the ripe berries and freeze them for use in baking and smoothies.

Mary Ann Romans writes for the Frugal Living Blog here at Families.com, where she shares money saving tips for today's families. She also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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