Reminder: Keep your berries in lidded glass jars

[Aromatherapy]

Just put the unwashed berries in a glass jar, screw the lid on, put in fridge. Posting because I can't be the only bozo who forgot this excellent tip from a few years ago. It really really works. If you missed it there are a bunch of threads, e.g. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/301817
Search for rworange's posts, she experimented a lot.

[choctastic]

I've tried this with all berries and it works great. Kind of weird. The strawberries do take on a slightly firmer texture after being in glass, or could be my imagination. However, that's better than having them rot.

Thanks again to rworange for this tip and many others.

[Sherri]

Anyone tried this with raspberries? I have a bounty and am loathe to freeze them just yet. I know about sugaring them and waiting for the delicious jus but thought a two week window would be like money in the bank.

[Ruth Lafler]

Yes, quite a few people have tried it with raspberries (including me) and the results were excellent.

[Sherri]

Thanks for the info. I have an experimental jar of mixed strawberries and raspberries that are on Day Four and look perfect. I'll let you know if the mixing works as well as storing them separately. Thanks for answering so quickly, Ruth Lafler. I appreciate it.

[Catskillgirl]

well NOW you tell me - I just found the last of this year's crop of wild black raspberries covered in mold. ** tears **

I'll remember for sure next year. But... could you remind me again, say next July 5th or so?

:-) I'm not really that upset - I ate my fill for over 3 weeks! Yummy, yummy little berries. What's left on the bushes are for the birds & critters. We haven't had enough rain to keep them blooming. And I'm just about out of french vanilla ice cream anyway!

[jillp]

This month I tested a Fresh-Vac container; unwashed strawberries kept perfectly for three weeks. I'm trying to remember how long the strawberries lasted when I put them in a glass jar last summer, but I don't think it was that long.