Raspberries are delicious and healthy summer berries. Being very delicate they are easily perishable, but by storing them in the right way it is possible to make them last longer. To keep them cool, keep them in the refrigerator and use a container that allows them to "breathe." Alternatively, you can store them in the freezer to make them last even longer and later use them, for example, to make a fresh summer smoothie. In any case, wash the raspberries before storing them to remove any mold and extend their shelf life.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Store Raspberries in the Refrigerator
Step 1. Choose a container that provides good ventilation
Do not put raspberries in an airtight container, because they need to "breathe" to stay fresh. For convenience, you can use their original container, which most likely has holes and openings. Alternatively, you can use a colander or something similar.
Step 2. Line the container with kitchen paper
Too much moisture can cause them to become moldy, so it's best to store them on paper towels. Raspberries will keep fresh longer, as the paper will absorb excess moisture.
Make sure the holes in the lid of the container are not covered, to allow air to circulate and keep the fruit fresh
Step 3. Don't store raspberries in the coldest part of the refrigerator
Many people think that it helps to make them last longer, but in fact they are wrong: putting them in the coldest area of the appliance you risk producing cold burns on the fruit.
The best thing to do is to arrange them in a spot where you can easily see them every time you open the refrigerator. That way you'll want to eat them and they'll run out long before they can go bad
Step 4. Do not put them in the vegetable drawer
Again, they will not keep fresh for longer, as the air inside the drawer is likely to be slightly more humid than that in the surrounding space. As a result, raspberries may spoil faster, so it's best to store them outside the vegetable drawer to prevent them from moldy.
Method 2 of 3: Store Raspberries in the Freezer
Step 1. Make sure the raspberries are completely dry
It is important not to put them in the freezer while they are damp, otherwise they will cause cold burns, and they will also freeze in a single block. Gently blot the fruits with paper towels before placing them in the freezer.
Step 2. Place them on a sheet of parchment paper
This step is to prevent them from sticking to each other as they freeze. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet and place the raspberries on top, making sure they don't touch each other. Arrange them neatly by creating a single layer.
The time it takes for them to freeze depends on the amount of raspberries and the power of the freezer at your disposal. Check the fruit every half hour until it has completely hardened
Step 3. Transfer the raspberries to a zip-lock food bag
Leave them on the parchment paper until they are completely frozen; at that point there will be no need to keep them separate, so you can transfer them to a food bag to avoid them taking up too much space in the freezer.
Step 4. Sugar the raspberries before placing them in the freezer
If you plan to use them to make, say, a jam or smoothie, you may want to consider making a simple sugar-water syrup in which to store them. Mix the water and sugar in equal parts to make the syrup.
- Transfer the raspberries to an airtight container, such as a glass jar with a lid.
- Pour the syrup over the raspberries, stopping 1-2 centimeters from the top edge of the jar.
- Screw the lid on and put the jar in the freezer.
Method 3 of 3: Making Raspberries Last Longer
Step 1. Throw away the moldy raspberries
A small portion of mold can contaminate an entire batch of fruit. Before putting them in the refrigerator or freezer, sort out any raspberries that have moldy parts.
The moldy parts are covered with a thin whitish down
Step 2. Wash the raspberries before storing them
It is a fundamental step, because it allows you to get rid of the dirt, mold and chemicals that were used to grow them. In addition to being dangerous elements for health, they can accelerate the deterioration process of small fruits. Do not wash them under running water as they are extremely delicate, otherwise they could be damaged.
- The best method is to put them in a colander and then fill a bowl with cold water.
- Place the colander in the water, then move the fruit gently to wash away the harmful substances.
Step 3. Disinfect the raspberries with vinegar
While they are apparently not moldy, they may have been infected with other berries with mold. The best solution to protect them - and prevent them from deteriorating themselves - is to immerse them in a mixture prepared with water and white wine vinegar. The required proportion is as follows: 250 ml of vinegar in 2 l of water.
- Submerge the raspberries with the disinfectant solution.
- Move them gently with your hands to wash them well. In addition to visible dirt, this process should also be able to remove small mold spores that could cause the fruit to mold easily.
- After washing and disinfecting them, let the raspberries dry completely and then store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Step 4. Try using hot water
Soaking raspberries in hot water should be able to kill the bacteria that cause mold growth; afterwards the fruits should last longer. Heat the water in a saucepan and bring it to 50 ° C.
- Soak the raspberries in hot water for about 30 seconds.
- Drain them from the water, let them dry and then store them as you like.
Step 5. Recognize the signs that a fruit has gone bad
It is important to know how to identify the fruits that must be discarded. The first discriminant is mold, which grows in the form of a whitish down. You should also get rid of any that are stained or soggy. If you have decided to refrigerate them, sort them every day to eliminate those that have gone bad from the group.
