We eat a lot of fresh produce in our house, but unfortunately, berries have always been a challenge for us to keep fresh.  That being said, I’m willing to bet we’re not the ONLY ones who have experienced the following scenario:

You’re at the grocery store picking out fresh berries.  You double check that there are no visible signs of mold or bacterial growth.  Thinking you’ve found the IDEAL container of berries you buy them and revel with joy knowing you’ve made the perfect purchase.  You go home and place the berries directly into the refrigerator for safe keeping.  The next day you open the refrigerator to enjoy some fre…..What the heck?!?…..Despite your best efforts, the berries are covered in (queue dramatic sound effect)…..Dun Dun Duuuuuuun…..fuzz.

Thankfully, this scenario is a thing of the past.  I’ve recently learned how to prolong the life of my beloved produce and couldn’t be happier with the results.  Berries now last a week or longer in our refrigerator, which means less fruit in the trash and more in our bellies!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 1/2 cups water

Instructions

1. Pour vinegar and water into a large bowl.
2. Soak berries in the mixture for 5-7 minutes (the acetic acid content of the vinegar kills mold spores and bacteria).
3. Drain the liquid and allow the berries to dry.  I like to dry the berries on the counter with some paper towels.
4. Store dried berries in the refrigerator with a paper towel, making sure to use a storage container that will allow the excess moisture to escape.

Notes

• Contrary to my initial concern, berries will NOT taste like vinegar after using this solution.
• Although I have experienced great success with the recipe I posted in this blog, there are clearly other water/vinegar ratios being used.  For example, some individuals use 3 cups water mixed with 1 cup white vinegar.  I encourage you to experiment and see which ratio works best for you!