Don't store fresh blueberries in an airtight container as this can trap moisture and speed up mold and rot. It's best to store blueberries in the main part of the refrigerator rather than the crisper drawer, to allow for better air circulation.
Store berries in paper towel-lined sealable container, with layers of paper towels between each layer of berries. Keep the lid slightly open to allow excess moisture to escape. Place in the refrigerator to store.
Fresh, Ready-to-eat Blueberries
It's important to refrigerate fresh berries after a grocery delivery, trip to the store or visit to the u-pick farm. You can keep them in the original plastic clamshell or in a covered bowl or container.
Storing the berries with a paper towel will act as a fresh absorbent pad and keep the moisture off the fruit.
Put the clean, dry berries back in the clamshell and store them in the fridge. Make sure to leave ventilation holes in the top uncovered so air can circulate in the package. Otherwise, store the berries in a clean container lined with paper towels, with the lid ajar so condensation can evaporate.
Store unwashed berries in a single layer—such as in a short, wide storage container—to keep the fruit from getting crushed. Line the container with paper towels to absorb excess moisture, then loosely cover. (A tight lid traps gases that will accelerate ripening.)
As for the berries you're not eating, be sure to store them in the fridge in a container that can breathe. That means no air-tight plastic or glass containers—though if that's all you have on hand, just leave the lid slightly ajar.
You can store them in the plastic clamshell they come in, or in a large, un-covered bowl or container. Don't store fresh blueberries in an airtight container as this can trap moisture and speed up mold and rot.
Don't crowd your berries when storing
Then cover the container with a loose-fitting lid to let excess moisture (a breeding ground for bacteria) escape. You don't want to use airtight containers here.
Don't rinse unless you have to!
The absolute best way to keep berries fresh is to avoid rinsing them until you're ready to eat them.
Once they have completely frozen, transfer the blueberries into Ziploc bags on any other airtight freezer containers. Label containers with the contents and date frozen and place in freezer. Blueberries will keep frozen for up to a year with minimal loss of flavor or texture deterioration.
But once you store them, how long do blueberries last? When you store blueberries in the fridge, they should keep for up to a week and when you freeze blueberries, they should keep for up to eight months. Want to keep your other berries fresh? Learn how to freeze and store strawberries.
Keep your containers cold and closed.
The berries do best when you leave them alone in a cold spot. If you can, store them in a fridge you don't use much, and keep them in the back. It's the coldest part of the fridge which will help preserve your berries without freezing them.
Once they're washed and dried, fresh berries should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature between 34℉ and 38℉. Pick out and discard any that are already squished or have moldy spots.
How to Wash Blueberries: Place berries in a colander (strainer) and dip the colander in a larger bowl of cold water. (Because blueberries are so delicate, running them under the water may cause breakage) Swish the berries around and drip dry! REMEMBER- Make sure to rinse berries 'as you go'…
If you find that your berries aren't getting completely dry or condensation is forming on the inside of your container, you can fold up a paper towel and put it at the top of your container. After you put the lid on, store the container upside down in your fridge so that the paper towel is now on the “bottom”.
Once they've been cut into, strawberries should always be stored in an airtight container to keep the flesh from drying out and bacteria from growing.
You can save even more space by growing blueberries and strawberries together in the same container. Just make sure the pot holds enough potting mix to support them.
A great way to help make your strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or other berries of choice last longer is to store them in a Mason jar or reusable glass jar with a firm closing lid. By doing this, you can extend the life of the fruit. ? When you take out the fruit wash them before eating.
That white powdery finish found on blueberries is actually a sign of freshness. The white stuff (called the bloom) is the blueberry's natural protection against the sun and if you can see it, it means the berries have been picked in nice, dry conditions.
The airtight jar seemed to keep the berries much fresher than storing them on an uncovered sheet pan. The strawberries towards the bottom of the jar seemed to spoil the quickest, probably because they were bearing the weight of the other berries on top of them, but they overall stayed quite fresh.
Most refrigerated produce stays fresh longer when sealed, whether in zip-top plastic bags, reusable silicone pouches, or containers with tight-fitting lids. These containers hold in moisture, preventing produce from dehydrating, and they help protect sensitive produce from the effects of ethylene gas.
Certain fruits like berries should be kept in airtight containers — microorganisms in the air can speed up the decomposition process, experts said. This pack of four glass containers from Rubbermaid comes with airtight, leak-proof lids that easily snap on and off, according to the brand.