14 Strawberry Recipes: Tips for Buying Fresh Strawberries

Buying strawberries can be a gamble if you’re not sure how to select the freshest options at the supermarket. Here’s how to make the most of this summertime staple:

1. 1. Buy during strawberry season. While it’s tempting to buy strawberries year-round, they’ll be at their best in the summer, starting in late May and early June. Out-of-season strawberries can taste watery or bitter, much like raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
   
2. 2. Look for bright red, firm fruit. When choosing strawberries, look for firm, unblemished fruits. The berries should be a deep red, not pale white, all the way to the green leaves, or hulls.
3. 3. Wait to wash. To prevent mildew from forming, keep your strawberries dry until you’re ready to use them. Then, rinse the berries under cool water and trim away the hull.

To experience the floral aroma of juicy strawberries, enjoy them at room temperature. If you aren’t going to eat them right away, leave the strawberries in the plastic clamshell from the grocery store and place it in the refrigerator.

To store freshly picked or loose strawberries, arrange them in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate or tray, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator.

For best results, enjoy fresh berries within a week. Ripe strawberries will last two to three days in the refrigerator. Freeze hulled strawberries in a single layer on a sheet tray before transferring them to a plastic bag or airtight container for longer storage. Frozen strawberries will keep for up to one year.

Dive into a selection of delicious strawberry desserts, cocktails, and more:

1. 1. Strawberry cake: To make a strawberry cake, top vanilla sponge cakes with sliced strawberries or swirl macerated strawberries into the pound cake batter. If incorporating fresh fruit into a cake batter, carefully balance the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients to avoid a soggy cake. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or Italian mascarpone cheese on the side.
2. 2. Strawberry cheesecake: While strawberry cheesecake can feature puréed and strained fruit mixed into the cream cheese filling, it more commonly refers to a vanilla cheesecake topped with sliced fruit and a strawberry sauce or glaze.
3. 3. Strawberry compound butter: Strawberry butter is a combination of whipped unsalted butter and ripe strawberries. Spread strawberry butter on toast, as you would with regular butter, or use it as a topping or condiment for bagels and cream cheese, waffles, and other brunch favorites. To make strawberry cream cheese, use the same method, replacing the butter with plain cream cheese.
4. 4. Strawberry cobbler: Strawberry cobbler is a summer dessert that pairs juicy, baked strawberries with a fluffy buttermilk biscuit-style topping. Like a one-pan strawberry shortcake, strawberry cobbler offers a flexible format with reliable results. If they’re in season, use fresh strawberries; the flavors will be brighter and bolder. Otherwise, feel free to use frozen options. Unlike other fruit dessert recipes, the excess liquid from frozen strawberries won’t affect the final texture. The juices will thicken (thanks to a bit of cornstarch) as the topping bakes. Combine strawberries with bright and tangy rhubarb to make a strawberry rhubarb cobbler.
5. 5. Strawberry daiquiri: Daiquiris are classic rum-based cocktails that use three main ingredients to create a perfect balance of sweet and sour: rum, citrus juice (most often lime), and a sweetener. The most popular variation on the classic daiquiri is the strawberry daiquiri, which features fresh strawberries for added sweetness. Frozen strawberry daiquiris, which have a consistency similar to a smoothie, are popular, but shaken strawberry daiquiris are closer in preparation to their classic counterpart.
6. 6. Strawberry granita: For a dairy-free take on a frozen strawberry treat that will impress your dinner party guests, combine ripe strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar as needed in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, then transfer the mixture to a large baking dish. Place it in the freezer for one hour, then use a fork or wooden spoon to agitate the mixture. Return the mixture to the freezer, and repeat the process as the granita sets. The final consistency should be fluffy and icy, like shaved ice.
7. 7. Strawberry ice cream: Strawberry ice cream is an iconic frozen dessert, featured in milkshakes, ice cream cakes, and classic ice cream combos, like Neapolitan. To make strawberry ice cream, add macerated strawberries to a vanilla ice cream base. In the final moments of churning, add chopped strawberries for texture and disperse them evenly. Serve a scoop with a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar.
8. 8. Strawberry jam: Strawberry jam is a condiment composed of chopped or macerated fresh fruit cooked with sugar until thickened into a soft, spreadable consistency. Try this strawberry jam recipe from acclaimed pastry chef Dominique Ansel.
9. 9. Strawberry milk: Strawberry milk is a beverage made from milk and strawberry syrup. Commercial versions of strawberry milk often contain artificial flavors and food coloring, but it's easy to make your own homemade strawberry milk with real strawberries, a glass of milk, and a sweetener. This easy recipe is a great way to use extra strawberries during strawberry season, but you can also make it with frozen strawberries for a blended treat.
10. 10. Strawberry pudding: Strawberry pudding is an egg yolk-based custard containing strawberry purée or strawberry flavoring. Home chefs can add different forms of flavorings to a pastry cream base to make a custom pudding—for example, melted chocolate, vanilla extract, or in the case of homemade strawberry pudding, a fruit purée.
11. 11. Strawberry rhubarb pie: Strawberry rhubarb pie features rhubarb and sweet strawberries. The sweetness of the strawberries balances the tartness of the rhubarb, and the colors and textures blend beautifully. This tangy strawberry pie can feature a double-crust with a lattice top or a simple crimp on the bottom crust, or you can make it as a free-form galette. For the best flavor, bake until the crust turns a deep golden brown.
12. 12. Strawberry salad: To make strawberry fruit salad, slice the berries lengthwise into quarters and combine them with chopped mint leaves, lemon juice, and a sprinkling of granulated sugar as needed. Spoon strawberry salad over Greek yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or French toast, or serve it alongside savory dishes as a bright and fruity counterbalance.
13. 13. Strawberry tart: A strawberry tart is a variation of French fruit tart, which features a thin, sablé pastry shell filled with pastry cream and jam, topped with a layer of thinly sliced strawberries. It’s finished with a glaze known as a nappage—a simple, neutral jelly glaze—to prevent discoloration and add an appealing gloss to the overall tart
14. 14. Strawberry vinaigrette: To give a summery lift to any green salad, use a light strawberry vinaigrette. In a small food processor or blender, combine fresh strawberries, olive oil, honey, and light-colored vinegar, such as red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or white wine vinegar. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, and purée until it becomes smooth and emulsified. Use strawberry vinaigrette in salads where you might include the fruit itself, like a mix of spinach, goat cheese, and toasted walnuts.

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