Last Updated on June 15, 2022
How long do strawberries last in the fridge? Today, we will be looking at every element that affects their shelf life and how to properly store them!
Strawberries are generally very perishable fruits But, using our tried and tested methods, you can extend the shelf life of your strawberries by days, even a week! Let’s jump right into it!
How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge? A Quick Look At What Strawberries Are
Strawberries are probably one of nature’s best indications that summer is on the way! These sweet and fragrant berries are produced across millions of acres of land!
Strawberries are sweet, soft, brightly colored, small red fruit. The sweet fragrant fruit has a seed-studded surface. Strawberries grow close to the ground from a strawberry plant that usually blooms with white flowers. They grow best in moderately warm conditions.
Strawberries are used in a ton of different recipes, which include sweet to savory flavors! They are often consumed more in desserts and sweet treats, but pair well with charcuterie meats like Parma ham, cheeses like Gruyere, and other savory spices like chili or vinegar, these can make delicious refreshing summer dishes and sides!
How strawberries are used
Strawberries can be enjoyed either fresh, partially prepared, or completely cooked!
Fresh strawberries can add a refreshing sweetness to fruit salads, smoothies, or breakfast dishes. They can also add some firm yet soft texture. Furthermore, they have a slight tanginess to them that makes them an excellent choice to help cut through overly sweet and creamy dessert items, like panna cotta or ice cream.
These berries can then also be cooked into jams, compotes, coulis, sauces, or purees. The main difference between these items is their consistency and level of sweetness.
And finally, strawberries can be roasted, grilled, poached, and steamed. Each of these cooking techniques will leave you will a different flavor profile and texture, all of which add to the final uniqueness of your recipe or dish.
How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge? – What Affects Their Shelf Life?
Strawberries don’t have an exceptionally long shelf life. On the contrary, their shelf life is relatively short compared to that of other fruits. By properly storing your fresh strawberries, you can potentially extend this time by days, even a week!
Here are a few factors that affect the shelf life of strawberries. By eliminating only one of these, you are preventing bacteria from thriving and surviving.
Temperature
Extremely high temperatures make strawberries deteriorate quickly! The best temperature to keep strawberries at is as close to 32°F (0°C). The moment strawberries get exposed to higher temperatures, even at room temperature, their shelf life lessons instantly.
A strawberry exposed to 68°F (20°C) will have ¼ of the shelf life of a strawberry kept at its optimal temperature.
That being said, strawberries kept at too low temperatures will start to freeze and become mushy. Now, while it is possible to freeze strawberries, doing so slowly will also break down the structure of the berry and cause it to become mush. This is why you will never defrost berries and use them whole.
Moisture and sugar
Strawberries are naturally extremely high in moisture and sugar. It’s what makes them so sweet and juicy! However, bacteria thrive when given the chance to feed on these.
So, by eliminating the moisture levels, you can extend the shelf life of berries drastically!
Mold spores
Strawberries naturally carry mold spores. These spores cause strawberries to deteriorate or rot quickly. By removing the spores by giving your strawberries a dry wipe, you can ensure that they won’t multiply as quickly!
How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge?
Although strawberries have a relatively short shelf life, storing them properly in the fridge will extend the shelf life by a few days, possibly even a week!
But, strawberries kept in the fridge under the right conditions can be stored for at least 5-8 days, maybe even longer!
Now, you also have to keep in mind that you bought the strawberries from a shop and you probably don’t know how long they have been sitting there. This will naturally also affect the shelf life in your fridge.
If you bought week-old strawberries from the shop, they will never last another week in your fridge. So, just ensure that you always buy the freshest produce possible!
We have included a few tips below on how to properly store strawberries.
How long do strawberries last in the fridge? Tips and tricks to extend their shelf life
- Wipe the strawberries with a clean cloth, damped with vinegar. The vinegar will help kill any mold spores or bacteria on the surface of the berries. You can even simply use a dry cloth if you don’t have a vinegar one. The dry cloth will also help remove any excess moisture that can aid in the deterioration process.
- Store the strawberries on a few pieces of dry paper towel. This will absorb any moisture on the berries and moisture that forms through condensation.
- Place the berries in a perforated container, never an airtight one. An airtight container will create a lot of condensation which creates moisture.
- Also, store the berries at the back of the fridge where it is completely away from light and in a dry place.
- Store the berries away from any strong odorous ingredients like garlic onions, and spices.
- As soon as you see moldy strawberries, remove them from the batch and use any remaining (rotten-free) ones.
How Do You Know If Strawberries Have Gone Bad?
Many people have a misconception about when strawberries are actually past their use-by date. Soft strawberries don’t necessarily mean unusable. These can still be incorporated into smoothies and sauces because they have merely lost their firm texture.
So, below we have listed some common signs for when your strawberries have gone off and should be discarded.
Appearance
Strawberries that have gone bad will have a deep dull red color and might even have brown spots. The seeds on the strawberry will also look dry and even fall out.
And naturally, strawberries covered in mold should immediately be discarded. They are beyond saving! If they only start having tiny spots, you can wipe them and immediately use them in a smoothie.
Smell
Strawberries that have gone past their date will have a smell slightly similar to vinegar. Fresh strawberries will smell fragrant, sweet, and refreshing.
Texture
The texture of deteriorated strawberries will be mushy and slimy. However, slightly soft strawberries that don’t have any of the above-mentioned rotten signs can still be used in smoothies, jams, or sauces.
Fresh strawberries should be firm and plump.
Final Thoughts – How Long Do Strawberries Last In The Fridge?
How long do strawberries last in the fridge? The exact time will be affected by a ton of factors, however, you can generally expect anything between 5-8 days. Let us know if you found this article useful and if you have any questions about the shelf life of other fruit!
Read more about How Long Do Raspberries Last In The Fridge?
FAQs
How long do chocolate covered strawberries last in the fridge?
Chocolate covered strawberries will last as long as the strawberry itself does. So, if the berry only lasts 3 days, the entire treat will only last 3 days. Chocolate has a much longer shelf life than strawberries, so won't be the determining factor. However, chocolate can form a white film in the fridge that won;t cause it to spoil, but can make it unappealing.
How do you make strawberries last longer in the refrigerator?
Wipe the strawberries with a damp vinegar cloth to kill any mold spores. Then, wipe them down with paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Store the berries on a dry paper towel at the back of the fridge away from any light.
How do you know if strawberries have gone bad?
Bad strawberries will have a dull red color that is darker than usual, sometimes even brown. You can also notice a sour vinegar-like smell on them. Then, they also start becoming soft and mushy. The most obvious sign of rotten strawberries that should immediately be discarded are visible mold.
How long will fresh strawberries last in refrigerator?
Fresh strawberries, when properly stored, can last anywhere between 5-8 days, possibly longer. However, this time frame is also affected by how fresh they were when you bought them. If you bought older strawberries, their shelf life will naturally be shorter.
Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.