How to Keep Blueberries Fresh in 5 Steps

Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries go bad quickly when exposed to many natural conditions in your kitchen and refrigerator. Moisture is the main reason that fresh blueberries go bad quickly, often within two days if they are not refrigerated. Other factors that adversely affect the berries’ freshness are light and humidity, which lead them to rot and develop natural contaminants that can lead to foodborne illnesses. If berries start to grow moldy, white or green fuzzy-looking patches, they are not safe to eat.

Berries that you buy from the grocery store often have a “use by” or “best before” date on the packaging, which will give you an indication of when they will turn bad. However, many containers of blueberries do not contain that information. The best way to prevent mold spots and rot from developing on your blueberries is to store them properly.

Here is a quick overview of the tried-and-true vinegar bath method for keeping your blueberries fresh:

1. 1. Inspect: Open your container of blueberries and pour them out into a colander. Remove any overly-moist berries along with any that have soft patches.
2. 2. Vinegar bath: Fill a large bowl with one cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and three cups of water. Add your blueberries to the bowl, swish them around, and let them soak for five to ten minutes. The vinegar will kill most of the bacteria.
3. 3. Rinse: Drain the berries in a colander or strainer and rinse them under cold water to clean off the vinegar solution.
4. 4. Dry: It's important to dry your berries as thoroughly as possible to prolong their shelf life. Lay out a paper towel, spread your berries across it, then cover them with another paper towel. Gently pat and rub the berries down with one hand so that the paper towel absorbs all the moisture. Alternatively, line a salad spinner with paper towels and spin the berries to dry them.
5. 5. Store: Store the fruit in a large, unsealed (or breathable) container in the refrigerator. An airtight container can trap moisture, speeding up the berries' rotting process. Place the fruit-filled container on the middle shelf of your fridge because putting it in the crisper drawer or on the top shelf will trap excess moisture and humidity.

The key to keeping blueberries fresh for longer is to eliminate as much bacteria and moisture as possible, whether you’re growing blueberries at home or buying them from the farmers’ market. Here are a few rules of thumb to follow that can help your blueberries last longer:

1. 1. Inspect before purchase. Inspect the blueberries before buying them at the grocery store. If there is one overly-moist berry in your batch, the others are likely to turn quickly, too. If you get home and notice that any of your blueberries have mold, are leaking juices, or have soft patches, remove them from the batch before storing it. You can also pick off the blueberry stems to prolong the life of your batch of berries.
2. 2. Wash only before use. Avoid washing your blueberries until you're ready to eat them. Washing adds moisture to the berries, which will speed up their ripening process, making them turn bad faster.
3. 3. Store properly. Your blueberries will likely come crowded together in the small container that stores sell them in. Removing your berries from this container can help them last longer. Line a container with paper towels and lay your berries out in a single layer, leaving the top of the container off to vent the berries. You should store blueberries in a low-humidity, low-moisture part of your fridge, such as the middle rack.
4. 4. Freeze in an airtight container. Frozen blueberries will stay edible for six to twelve months, while refrigerated blueberries will typically keep for a maximum of five days. Flash freeze blueberries to prevent them from clumping into an unusable ball. To do so, lay them out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet, making sure the berries aren't touching, and place them in the freezer for two hours. Remove the baking sheet from the freezer, and place the berries in a freezer bag or airtight container. Thaw the frozen berries in the fridge for a day to enjoy them fresh, or add frozen blueberries to any of your favorite smoothies.

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