Folks, it’s summertime! This is my favorite time of year, mainly because of the ripe fruits in my garden that I can’t wait to harvest.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that my strawberries were also turning a sweet red color. I didn’t find any worms crawling on my berries, I just washed and sorted them in the fridge.
I watched a video where other farmers washed their strawberries in a completely different way than I did. A few minutes into the clip, tiny bugs started coming out of them. Yikes!
Of course, I didn’t throw away all the strawberries, instead I tried every technique out there! It turned out really well! Besides bugs, I managed to keep them fresh longer than expected.
If you also want to save your delicious dessert fruit, these tricks will come in handy.
#1 Try Soaking Berries In Hot Water
You’ve probably all used this method, because washing strawberries means you’re removing sand and dirt from them. No one wants to feel bits of soil while eating, right?
What do you think is the best temperature for washing? Believe it or not, hot water can keep your berries fresh for up to seven days. Here’s what you need to do!
Grab a thermometer and set the water temperature to 109°F. Place the strawberries in a bowl and soak them for thirty seconds. After that, dry them off and dive into the delicious taste of fresh berries!
#2 Use The Power Of Soda And Vinegar To Create A Magic Spell Against Creepy Crawlies
Don’t tell me I’m the only one who poured mentos into cola, shook it, and waited for the big fireworks as a child!
Let’s just say the next scene was me panicking and running around the house trying to clean up the yellow walls that used to be white. Don’t even get me started on waiting for my parents to get back home from work. One friendly reminder, don’t try this at home!
Besides my crazy childish experiments, you can actually do something more beneficial. Soak your strawberries in soda and vinegar. Place the berries in a container, then add twelve cups of water and one tablespoon each of vinegar and soda.
You’ll see bugs magically floating to the surface because they can’t stand the smell of vinegar. After that, rinse the strawberries well with cold water to remove any bitter taste.
Using vinegar will help you get rid of all the bacteria on the berries and make them stay fresh for up to seven days! This famous duo is known for its effectiveness in cleaning, and vinegar is also known for its health benefits!
#3 Put Salt In Water And Watch The Bugs Run Away
This was the first method I tried, and it turned out to be one of the most effective. I’ve recommended it to all my friends, and since then, they never pick strawberries without soaking them in salt water first!
To start, mix one tablespoon of salt with one tablespoon of water. Add the strawberries and let them soak for twenty minutes. You’ll observe bugs escaping from the berries during this process. After this dramatic scene, rinse the strawberries thoroughly and enjoy their fresh taste!
I was surprised to see even fruit flies coming out of the berries when I tried this method. If you’ve just returned from your garden with a basket full of tasty fruits, now is the perfect time to give this trick a try!
Folks, that’s all for today! I hope these tips were useful to you and that next time you’ll wash your strawberries well before eating them. After all, there are other sources of protein besides bugs, right?
That’s why it’s important to use these life hacks, they’ll help not only with bugs but also with cleaning off any bacteria and dirt from the berries! Now it’s your turn to give it a try!
Good luck!