The strawberry is a fruit that graces our tables all year round, grown in greenhouses to ensure availability throughout the seasons. Especially favored in pastries and desserts, it’s an indispensable ingredient. Cleaning strawberries is vital for their healthy consumption. So, what’s the best answer to the question, “How should strawberries be washed?” Should strawberries be cleaned with vinegar, or with saltwater? Here are all the details you need to know about cleaning strawberries with vinegar…
Tips for Properly Cleaning Strawberries
Since strawberries grow close to the ground, their cleaning process demands a high degree of care and precision. The right way to clean strawberries became a trending topic on social media last year. We’ve compiled some key points about properly cleaning strawberries for your convenience.
Cleaning Strawberries with Vinegar: Step-by-Step Guide
As every household knows, vinegar is an excellent cleaner. To clean strawberries with vinegar, fill a bowl with 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and 8 cups of water. Let the strawberries soak in this mixture for 4-5 minutes. However, be aware that if you let them soak too long, the surface color of the strawberries may change.
Vinegar effectively eliminates dirt and bacteria from strawberries. After soaking the strawberries in the vinegar solution, drain them and rinse once with cold water. If you’re not going to consume the strawberries immediately, don’t put them in the refrigerator while they’re still wet. Instead, let them dry on a paper towel before refrigerating.
The Role of Saltwater in Cleaning Strawberries: How to Apply?
Another method for cleaning strawberries involves using saltwater. For this method, add 2 teaspoons of salt to 2 cups of water and immerse the strawberries. Then, let them soak for 4-5 minutes. Again, remember that leaving the strawberries in the water for too long can make them go soft. Rinse the saltwater-cleaned strawberries and consume.
Key Points to Consider While Cleaning Strawberries
The most crucial points to consider during strawberry cleaning involve the duration of the process and what to do afterward. Soaking the strawberries for too long can affect their structure and taste. Moreover, if you’re not planning to consume them immediately after cleaning, you should not put strawberries in the fridge while they’re wet. This could lead to spoilage. Instead, dry the cleaned strawberries on a paper towel before refrigerating.
Conclusion
Cleaning strawberries is vital, especially since they’re a fruit that comes into direct contact with the soil. Vinegar and saltwater are the two most preferred methods for cleaning strawberries. Both methods require soaking the strawberries in water for a specific duration. However, not exceeding this duration is important to preserve the taste and texture of the strawberries. After the cleaning process, if strawberries are not going to be consumed immediately, they should be dried and stored in this state. This way, we can enjoy both healthier and tastier strawberries.
