It's simple really: just give them a quick bath in a vinegar and water solution the moment you get them home, dry them, and place them in a clean container lined with paper towels. The vinegar helps to kill any mold that could cause them to spoil, and this method can make them last as long as 10 days in our house!
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'…
A simple solution of white vinegar and water reportedly destroys bacteria and mold spores, which in turn, help the berries to last longer.
Place the berries in a large bowl and wash them in a vinegar-water bath: 1 cup of white vinegar and 8 cups of water. Let the berries sit in the vinegar-water bath, gently moving them to help dislodge any dirt, grime and letting the vinegar kill spores and bacteria.
To try this editor-approved strategy, combine 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water (for example, ¼ cup vinegar plus 1 cup water) in a pitcher or bowl, then soak the berries in the vinegar water for about 5 minutes. After that, rinse thoroughly with plain water.
Make sure you get your berries very dry, either by air drying on a clean towel or by gently patting dry, then store in the fridge in a container lined with dry paper towels.
Vinegar Bath to Kill Mold
Discard any berries that show even a bit of mold. Combine 3 cups cold water and 1 cup white vinegar in a large bowl or salad spinner. Immerse berries and swish around for about a minute. Drain berries, then rinse with clean, cold water until any trace of vinegar aroma or taste is gone.
The most effective way to clean pesticide residue off of strawberries is to submerge them in a vinegar bath.
Making a vinegar fruit wash is very simple and requires only a few ingredients and tools. To start, combine 1 cup of either distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar with 4 cups of water. To add a bit of citrus flavor, add one tablespoon of lemon juice, too.
What we learned: Yes, it is safe to soak fruits and vegetables in vinegar. Using a solution that's three parts water and one part vinegar will be most effective at removing bacteria. If soaking fruit in the sink, be sure to clean the sink first and make sure you're using enough vinegar to meet the three-to-one ratio.
Always wash your fruits and vegetables
Toxic chemicals are sprayed on crops and the residue of these pesticides remain on fruits and vegetables unless they are washed off using an appropriate method. Use salt, bicarb or vinegar to soak your vegetables for around 20 minutes to remove pesticides and bacteria.
Washing berries in water is a good way to get off obvious dirt and grime and an efficient way to wash strawberries. For an even deeper clean, dip them in a 3:1 mixture of water and distilled white vinegar.
Empty blueberries from their container into a colander to make the washing process easier and to reduce risk. Turn on your sink, letting cool water flow. "Berries should be washed gently under cool running water, moving them around to allow the water to run across all sides," she says.
Yes! Blueberries (as well as other types of fruits and berries) need to be washed to rid them of bacteria, dirt, small bugs and pesticides. Normally, we would advise not to wash berries until you're ready to eat them, to avoid the extra moisture that causes spoilage.
To dry berries after washing, carefully spread them in a single layer on a tray or baking sheet lined with paper towels. Gently pat the berries dry with another paper towel.
Well, friends, I have a little trick that helps prolong the life of your berries, and you probably already have it in your kitchen: white vinegar. Yes, you read that right! Give your berries a quick dunk in a dilute white vinegar mixture, and you are helping kill off those pesky mold spores.
Fill a large bowl with 3 cups water mixed with 2 Tbsp vinegar. Since we'll be rinsing them well, sometimes I use organic white distilled vinegar as it's more affordable and not quite as strong of a flavor, but apple cider vinegar will work too. Place the berries into the water and let them soak 5 to 10 minutes.
Using vinegar might also affect the taste, so although vinegar will work, the best approach is to wash produce under cold, running tap water and rub or brush where applicable to remove dirt and microbes.
The most effective way to make your fruit last longer is to soak it in a bath of water and vinegar, let it dry on a towel, and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
As our own Kat Kinsman explains, "To prevent mold growth and extend berries' freshness, rinse them in a mixture of one cup white vinegar and four cups of water, then drain and dry them thoroughly." Store them as you would unwashed berries, on top of a dry paper towel in an open container in the fridge.
Do you wash strawberries with salt or vinegar? You can wash strawberries with both, though neither are necessary—water works just fine! If you want to wash with salt though, you can dissolve one teaspoon in a couple of cups of warm water.
Use 2 tablespoons (30 mL.) of vinegar per gallon of water and water the blueberry with this once a week or so. While this is a quick fix, it is not a long lasting one and should not be relied on as a long term way for lowering blueberry soil pH.