When blueberries are in season and inexpensive, it's time to stock up. Follow these tips to care for your blueberries so that they stay fresh longer.
Wash and Dry
If the berries will be used right away, use a colander
to wash the berries under running water. The quickest way to dry berries is to use a salad spinner
lined with paper towels. About three layers of paper towels will protect the berries. If the berries will not be used right away, wash them in a bowl of three cups water and 1 cup white vinegar. The vinegar will kill bacteria and discourage molding. Then rinse under running water and drain using a colander. Dry using a salad spinner.
Storage
To keep berries in the refrigerator, use a rigid container
lined with paper towels. Keep the lid ajar to allow any excess moisture to escape.Blueberries can also be frozen with excellent results. For use in cooking, freeze a layer of blueberries on a baking sheet
. When the berries are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag for storage.If you plan on eating the thawed berries alone, you can improve the appearance and texture by tossing washed and dried berries in sugar until coated evenly. About 2 cups of sugar will coat 8 cups of berries.
When you are ready to use, take the berries out of the freezer and rinse off the sugar. The sugar will rinse off easily. Freezing with a sugar coating will improve the appearance and texture of the berries.
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