Wash and dry the strawberries thoroughly.
Remove the petiole and cut the strawberries in half or slices if you want to facilitate future use.
Put the strawberries on a baking tray in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch, and freeze them for about 2 hours.
Once frozen, transfer them to freezer bags or airtight containers.
Frozen strawberries can be stored for about 6 months. To use them, just pull them out of the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature, or use them directly in smoothies or desserts.
5. Long-term preservation in syrup or jam
If you have a large amount of strawberries that you won’t be able to eat in time, another method is to prepare strawberry jam or syrup. This method not only preserves the flavor of strawberries, but also allows you to enjoy them longer throughout the year.
Strawberry jam: cook strawberries with sugar and lemon juice to obtain a jam with an intense and fresh flavor. You can store the jam in sterilized jars.
Strawberry syrup: just bake strawberries with sugar and water to get a dense syrup to use as a topping for sweets or to store in sealed bottles.
6. Other methods for prolonging freshness
Lemon use: A splash of lemon juice on strawberries helps maintain their color and flavor for longer.
Apple Vinegar: If you want extra protection against mold formation, try briefly dipping strawberries in a solution of water and apple cider vinegar (1 part of vinegar and 10 parts of water). Then, dry them well before storing them in the refrigerator.
Preserving fresh strawberries correctly is not difficult, just follow some tricks. From the refrigerator to the freezer, to the preparation of jams and syrups, there are many ways to extend the life of these delicious berries and enjoy them all year round. Follow these natural secrets and you will always have fresh strawberries available!
