Raspberries and blackberries are among the best purchases in summer, whether from the market, the garden, or the supermarket. At the same time, they are delicate: a little pressure, too much moisture, or a warm afternoon in the kitchen is enough to quickly turn beautiful berries into a mushy bowl.
Those who handle berries correctly save money and food. Three points are crucial: do not wash unnecessarily early, dry well, and cool or freeze quickly.
Sort first, then store
Check the berries briefly after buying or picking them. Very soft, crushed, or moldy fruits should be sorted out. One spoiled berry can cause the rest to spoil faster. Good berries are best kept loosely in a flat bowl or container, not pressed together in a deep box.
If the berries came home in a warm transport bag, they should not be left on the countertop for long. The faster they get into the refrigerator, the better.
Do not wash in advance
Raspberries and blackberries should ideally only be washed shortly before eating. Water makes the surface damp, and moisture accelerates spoilage. If you still want to prepare berries, do so only carefully and with sufficient time to dry.
A fine sieve with cold water is practical. Do not rub hard, do not soak for a long time, and do not crush the berries under a hard stream of water. Then spread them out on kitchen paper or a clean cloth and let them drain well.
How to keep berries better in the refrigerator
- Store flat: A wide container is better than a tall one.
- Leave air: Do not seal the lid tightly if condensation forms.
- Keep dry: A piece of kitchen paper at the bottom absorbs excess moisture.
- Keep cool: Berries belong in the refrigerator quickly, but not in the warmest corner.
- Wash only before eating: This increases the chance of having beautiful, firm fruits.
If there are too many berries: freeze them
Anyone who realizes that the berries will not be eaten in time should not wait until they become soft. To freeze, carefully sort the fruits, wash briefly if necessary, and dry very well. Then first pre-freeze them individually on a tray or flat plate and only then put them into a container or freezer bag.
This way they stick together less and can later be used in portions for smoothies, porridge, yogurt, cakes, or desserts.
What to do with slightly soft berries?
Slightly soft but otherwise perfect berries do not need to be thrown away. They are suitable for compote, sauce, fruit coulis, overnight oats, yogurt, or quick desserts. However, moldy berries no longer belong in the kitchen. One should be consistent here and also check the surroundings in the bowl.
Small shopping rule
Buy delicate berries in smaller quantities if they are not going to be eaten on the same or the next day. In hot weather, a cooler bag is worth it for the way home. This sounds like a small thing, but it often makes the difference between fresh berries in the evening and a mushy bowl the next morning.
Read also
- Saving currants and berries: freezing, preserving, and using them up quickly
- How to properly store, freeze, and use apricots
- Storing food correctly in heat
- Fruit flies in the kitchen: What really helps in the heat
- Summer kitchen without a stove: 7 cold dinners for hot days
Sources and further information
- BMLUK: In season now – the Wachau apricot
- AGES: Cooking safely
- Gesundheit.gv.at: Processing of food
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
