Everything You Need To Know About Strawberries
A batch of strawberries can be considered a treasure trove. Strawberries are not merely an aesthetic sight to behold, they afford a tangy and mildly sweet flavor that has made them a popular favorite everywhere. From the best strawberry recipes to the best way to store them, this article has it all so consider this your tell-all guide to strawberries!
First, a little background details about the origin of strawberries. This delicious berry has been enjoyed for thousands of ages with the garden strawberry first being bred in Brittany, France, in the 1750s via a cross of Fragaria virginiana from eastern North America and Fragaria chiloensis.
With the unique taste of the soft flesh of strawberries, they remain widely popular among all ages and in different parts of the world. Even better, they have many health benefits.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF STRAWBERRIES
Some of the alluring benefits of strawberries have to do with their nutritional value when consumed. They are rich sources of fiber, folate, vitamin C and potassium.
A 2016 research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry looked at studies on how strawberries fight inflammation and oxidation, and how their inclusion in a diet can prevent obesity, heart disease and cancer.
If you need reasons to eat more strawberries, there you go!
HOW TO CHOOSE STRAWBERRIES
As delightful as strawberries are, choosing batches that are of the best quality and at the perfect level of ripeness can be a great hassle. So, keep these few tips in mind for your next grocery trip:
- Go for bright red berries. Make sure your strawberries are ripe before buying because, unlike other fruits, they'll not continue to ripen after they are picked.
- Look for fresh green leaves. The leaves of berries start to wilt after they're picked. Thus, dried leaves on your strawberries tell that they are not fresh.
- Check for plump berries. If the berries are starting to look “dry” or shriveled, they are not fresh.
- Smaller berries are usually sweeter than bigger berries, but that doesn't make the bigger berries any less delicious though!
- Look for moldy growths. If you sight any, the strawberries are most likely not fresh, pick another box.
- Check the bottom of the box for berries that may have started to rot.
THE BEST WAYS TO ENJOY STRAWBERRIES
There are diverse ways to enjoy strawberries. Some of our favorite recipe suggestions are:
- Fresh
- Smoothies
- A nutritious fruit bowl drizzled with honey and yogurt
- Strawberry milk ù
- Fruit Sandwiches
- Fruits juices
HOW TO STORE STRAWBERRIES
The best ways to store your strawberries are:
- Fresh: First, rinse the berries in a vinegar solution (1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water), and dry them using a salad spinner lined with paper towels. Then, place the berries in a paper towel-lined container, loosely place the lid on (do not seal it), and pop them in the fridge.
- Frozen: simply wash the strawberries, transfer them into a freezer bag and then freeze.
- Put the strawberries into a bowl full of water and add 1 tbs of baking soda. Wash and store in the fridge.
DEFROSTING FROZEN STRAWBERRIES
The best way to defrost your strawberries is to transfer them from the freezer to the refrigerator for about six to eight hours or by leaving them under cold running water for 30 minutes to one hour.
This will leave them as firm as possible.
WHAT TO DO WHEN STRAWBERRIES GET MUSHY
Don't be sad if you defrost your strawberries to find that they have become very mushy, simply use them in recipes that require blending like yogurt bowls, fruit juices, etc. Now, you'll never have to throw out your strawberries again!
