Nothing better than eating sweet and tart blueberries in the summer, but unless stored properly they can become mushy and rotten only a few days after being bought.
Blueberries spoil quickly as like most berries they have a high water content, which makes them more susceptible to bacteria and mould.
The natural sugars in the fruit can begin to ferment when exposed to air, which is why it is important to know how to store blueberries properly to stop food waste and save a little money on your food shopping.
Amy Cross, a food storage expert and founder of the cooking website The Cross Legacy, has shared that it takes less than five minutes to store blueberries but it will extend their shelf life to six to eight weeks.
She said: “It only takes a few minutes to follow the steps to properly wash, dry, and store your blueberries. This small amount of time is worth it in order to reduce your food waste and ensure that they are fresh for weeks!”
How to keep blueberries fresher for longer
The first step for keeping blueberries fresh is to place them in a bowl filled with cold water and around four tablespoons of white vinegar to wash them.
It may sound unusual, but white vinegar is highly acidic and washing blueberries in a diluted vinegar solution will remove any bacteria on their surface which could contribute to spoiling them if left unwashed.
The acidity of vinegar also helps prevent mould spores from being able to grow on the blueberries, which will help to keep them fresh for weeks after being bought.
Make sure to set a timer before adding the blueberries to the bowl they should only soak in the vinegar solution for two minutes, as any longer risks the blueberries tasting like vinegar.
Once the two minutes are up, drain the blueberries in a colander (or salad spinner if you have one) to quickly rinse them.
Then place a tea towel on your kitchen counter and lay the blueberries on a single layer to air dry. Blueberries need to be completely dry before storing them as any excess moisture will cause bacteria growth.
After the blueberries are dry they will be ready to put away, and the best place to store them is in a container with a lid to protect them from bacteria once they are in the fridge.
Any container with a lid will do, but glass containers or mason jars tend to be the most effective at storing fruit and preventing it from spoiling.
Add a paper towel to the bottom of the container before adding the blueberries as it will absorb any excess moisture coming from the fruit to prevent any mould or bacterial growth.
Amy said: “A paper towel should be placed at the bottom of the mason jar in order to collect any excess moisture. As long as you follow my instructions, a little bit of condensation in the jar is okay.”
Place the container in the fridge and your blueberries should remain fresh, tart and sweet for up to two months longer than they normally would last.
Amy said: “Washing blueberries, the correct way, as well as storing them in mason jars or glass containers, will extend their shelf life to six to eight weeks! This allows you to enjoy fresh blueberries for months.”
