Blueberries have a nasty behavior of changing into mouldy shortly, however they’ll really keep contemporary for as much as three weeks if you understand how to retailer them correctly.
Blueberry season kicks off in Might, and rising numbers of buyers will likely be selecting up these plump, juicy berries for wholesome breakfasts, al fresco picnics, or home made puddings. Costs are inclined to drop at the moment of yr, however you will be throwing good cash away in case your berries flip mouldy inside a day.
It might sound stunning, however blueberries are literally extra liable to spoiling when left of their unique grocery store packaging, because the plastic encourages condensation to type. Berries have a excessive water content material, which progressively evaporates throughout storage. When this moisture-laden air meets a chilly floor, it produces condensation — tiny water droplets that may quickly speed up mould progress.
Blueberries usually tend to turn into mouldy when saved in a plastic container from the grocery store(Picture: Getty)
Luckily, Lisa Childs, a cookbook writer and founding father of Tried, Examined, and True, has revealed a brilliantly easy technique for preserving blueberries more energizing for longer, and all you want is a few kitchen roll.
Lisa mentioned: “As a result of the unique berry containers are vented, berries saved in them is not going to final fairly as lengthy. To make your berries keep contemporary longer, retailer berries in a big, shallow [containers] with an hermetic lid, lined with paper towels.”
Blueberries are sometimes offered in plastic punnets riddled with air flow holes, which helps keep their freshness throughout transit by permitting air to flow into freely and stopping moisture from increase.
Nonetheless, fridges are extraordinarily humid environments, and blueberries that stay stationary are inclined to accumulate moisture inside their container, which is able to finally result in mould forming.
Storing blueberries with a paper towel will cease condensation from forming within the container(Picture: Getty)
Paper towels are the best merchandise to retailer alongside blueberries, as they soak up any condensation that builds up contained in the container, serving to to maintain the berries dry.
It additionally helps to maintain blueberries in an hermetic meals container, glass mason jars and even takeaway meals tubs, as this prevents them from piling on high of each other, which equally wards off extra moisture.
Easy methods to maintain berries contemporary for longer
First issues first — ensure you’re deciding on the best blueberries on the grocery store. Attain for these on the very again of the shelf and keep away from any that seem darkish or shrivelled.
When you’re again residence, give them a radical rinse beneath the faucet to take away any micro organism, then lay them out on a beneficiant pile of paper towels.
Ensure to scrub blueberries to eliminate any micro organism on the berries(Picture: Getty)
Place extra paper towels inside an hermetic meals container earlier than including your blueberries.
After that, merely pop your blueberries within the fridge. Guarantee they’re utterly dry beforehand, as any lingering moisture will encourage mould and spoilage.
Your blueberries ought to stay contemporary for a minimum of per week longer than normal, although some individuals have found that this storage hack can prolong their shelf life by as a lot as three weeks in some instances.
