Strawberries are juicy, nutrient-dense fresh fruits high in water, carbs, and other essential nutrients, and they attract almost everyone. Strawberries work well with many foods, including salads and something exotic in desserts such as chocolate-covered strawberries.
Strawberries are commonly referred to as berries, although botanists classify them as pseudocarp. These small fruits are perishable and should be consumed within the first two days after receiving them; even then you need to safely store them if you are keeping them for more than a day.
In our guide, you can learn do strawberries need to be refrigerated to keep them fresh for several days? By the end, you’ll know how they should be stored properly and what you can do to keep them fresh for as long as possible. (Learn How Long Can Tuna Be Left Out)
How Long Can You Keep Strawberries Fresh?
The precise answer to that question depends mainly on storage conditions and how ripe the berries were when purchased or picked – for maximum shelf life, keep strawberries refrigerated at all times.
Properly stored, strawberries will usually keep for about 3 to 7 days in the fridge.
How long do strawberries last at room temperature?
Strawberries should only be left out at room temperature if they will be consumed within one or two days, as they are perishable and do not ripen once picked.
- Refrigerate strawberries in their closed plastic clamshell container, in an airtight container, or a shallow container with plastic wrap loosely covering the berries.
- Before refrigerating, discard any bruised or rotten strawberries.
- Strawberry berries should not be washed until they are ready to eat or use to extend their shelf life.
- Strawberries that are spoiling will become mushy, and their color will fade; if mold forms, or if the strawberries have an off odor or appearance, discard them.
If you ask, should you refrigerate strawberries fresh from the garden or market, you need to treat them the same way as fresh blueberries.
Can you freeze whole strawberries?
To freeze highly perishable berries and extend shelf life for several months:
- Rinse berries and blot dry with paper towels.
- Slice stems from the berry.
- Place strawberries whole strawberries, or cut them, so strawberries sit cut side down on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for a few hours to flash freeze until the strawberries are frozen.
- Transfer frozen strawberries to a covered airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
They’ll keep their best quality for about 10 to 12 months if stored properly stored in the right food storage container, but strawberries last longer than this, much like frozen veggies do.
Strawberries last indefinitely when stored frozen at a temperature of 0°F.
One disadvantage when you store strawberries this way is the sugars break down, and they’ll become mushy when thawed.
Frozen strawberries should not be used to make chocolate-covered strawberries; instead, they should make jam, baked goods, or drinks.
Strawberries have a similar structure to blueberries, so they will store the same way and have the same texture after freezing. (Learn How Long Are Leftover Mashed Potatoes Good For)
How Long Are Strawberries Good For?
Fresh strawberries:
- Strawberries can be left out for two days after being plucked from the garden.
- If you want to keep them fresh, don’t wash them; instead, put them in a box and store them in the fridge.
- If put dry, fresh strawberries can last two to three days.
- If any moisture comes into contact with the berry’s surface, it will lose its freshness and may rot.
Uncut strawberries:
When the fruit ripen, you can harvest it off the plant. First, make sure the strawberry is entirely crimson from bottom to top. They have a two-day sitting period.
You should harvest strawberries when they are fully mature. They may turn soft and decay if you leave them on the plant.
Cut or Sliced strawberries:
When the surface of the fruit is open or cut, bacteria have an easier time establishing colonies.
When germs gain control of a berry, the result is rotten fruit.
Strawberries that have been cut or sliced will keep for one day at room temperature and not be refrigerated. The food can be kept in the refrigerator for one to three days.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
Strawberries decay more quickly than other berries. Water is heavily induced in them, accounting for over 97 percent of their total weight.
Strawberries are not protected by chocolate, although the chocolate on the strawberry is safe at room temperature.
Even after one day at room temperature and two to three days in the refrigerator, the berry may not be in good shape.
Dipped strawberries:
Because strawberries have mold spores on their skin, any fungus or bacterium can develop faster on their surface. Dipped strawberries will only stay for one day on the counter.
Strawberries Frozen:
Assume you put the strawberries in the refrigerator after they’ve been taken from the freezer. Here, the strawberries sweat, causing them to rot faster.
Strawberries can be kept in the fridge for almost a week. Don’t leave them out for too long when you take them out of the fridge.
Room temperature Strawberries:
At room temperature, strawberries will only stay for one to two days.
If you want to keep your strawberries for a longer duration, put them in the freezer for a more extended period and put them in the refrigerator for a shorter period.
What happens when strawberries sit out for too long?
Strawberries are susceptible to humidity. Therefore, strawberries should be kept in a dry place.
Highly perishable strawberries grow mold in humid conditions or hot weather. Moldy strawberries rot quickly, and if they touch each other, this mold is passed on and is not edible.
When looking at how long do strawberries last, you need to know the signs they are losing freshness. (Learn How To Keep Artichokes Fresh)
Discard strawberries if they have any of these signs:
- Mold: Signs of white or grey mold show the shelf life of those strawberries is over, and they have spoiled and won’t remain safe to eat.
- Bruised or soft: Soft strawberries will quickly rot when soft. You can also find them not delicious, although rather than store strawberries like this, you could quickly make a sweet strawberry sauce and store it in the freezer.
- Losing color: If losing color, food storage has gone on too long, and they are not tasty and not safe for eating.
- Off smell: in the same way as blueberries, if your strawberries have an off smell, it is a sign that the fruit is not safe to eat.
Tips for Storing Strawberries
If you ask, how long do strawberries last? Hulling strawberries or pulling off the leaves and stems exposes the fruit’s flesh to air and bacteria.
- The berries then lose their ability to stay fresh, so leave strawberries whole with leaves and stems attached until ready to use.
- Now you know the answer to, should strawberries be refrigerated? Rather than using the original container, the refrigerator crisper drawer is pretty good at storing fruits and vegetables.
- Using clean paper towels, line a tray with whole strawberries. The paper towels help absorb moisture on the strawberry surfaces or soak up any leaking juices.
- No matter the temperature, you’ll find not long for the question of how long do strawberries last if they are wet as moisture speeds up deterioration.
- Open fridge crisper drawer vents once your tray of blueberries or strawberries is in. Moisture escapes, and it helps keep humidity low.
- Note, you need to spread fresh berries in a single layer on absorbent paper towels and ensure they aren’t touching.
