The Ice Water Tip To Revive Strawberries When They Start Browning

Strawberries, like all berries, have a short lifespan and an even shorter period of peak freshness. Even if you buy strawberries at their juiciest, most vibrant, after as little as a week, they're probably already on a downhill trajectory. If you notice your strawberries beginning to show signs of decline, an ice water bath is your ticket to reviving color — and maybe even texture.

We should note that if strawberries are moldy or completely brown, then they're past saving. But if they're exhibiting a shriveled appearance, brown spots, and softening, they're still worth saving. Though exposure to moisture in the fridge can cause mold growth and deterioration, brown spots, a dull color, and softening are often signs that the strawberries have lost moisture from within. It's debated whether this trick firms the fruit, so expect the strawberries to still be soft. Plus, the compounds responsible for strawberries' red hue are water-soluble, so a water bath will brighten their dulled coloring.

Simply place strawberries in a single layer in a bowl, cover them with a layer of ice, and fill the bowl with cold water. Soak the strawberries for around 20 minutes before draining and straining them. When they're ready, you can enjoy them as a snack or sliced and added on top of a bowl of yogurt, cottage cheese, or vegan chocolate chia seed pudding.

An ice bath, while effective, is used to treat strawberries on their last leg. By starting with simple preparation steps, there are ways to delay the end stage of your strawberries' lifespans for another week or so. While an ice bath may reinvigorate texture and color in old strawberries, cleaning fresh strawberries with hot water can prolong their life. Hot water will rid strawberries of debris like dirt and sand while also killing bacteria that can hasten rot. Another way to eliminate bacteria is with a vinegar bath. Either way, moisture is the root cause of mold growth and deterioration, so drying the strawberries thoroughly before storing them is very important.

The best way to keep strawberries fresh in the fridge is by ensuring they're in a container with some air flow to stay as dry as possible. You could even line their storage container with a paper towel to absorb any moisture. Proper storage can keep strawberries at peak freshness for up to two weeks. If you don't plan on eating a surplus of strawberries during the two-week window, you can always freeze them to extend their shelf life for months. Portion them into small freezer-safe bags along with other perishable fruit to pull out and use in smoothie recipes.