In addition to apples, cherries and pears, delicious berries can also provide fresh fruit enjoyment from your own garden or from nature. Since there are various myths and untruths about washing berries correctly, it is worth taking a quick look at the facts about carefree berry enjoyment.

Berries should be washed only when necessary

Wash berries at all or not?

Washing fully ripe berries such as raspberries and strawberries can dilute their flavor, as the protective skin on these fruits is extremely thin and the juice can easily leak out. However, washing should only be avoided completely if the fruit is not picked from nature, such as wild blueberries, which could potentially pose a risk of infection with the fox tapeworm. Washing berries from your own garden before consumption can also be advisable if residues of sprays or fertilizers may be adhering to the fruits. If this is not the case, the berries can also be enjoyed freshly harvested without prior washing. When harvesting, you should also make sure that muddy or already moldy specimens do not end up in the harvest basket in the first place. In this way they can sometimes save the flawless berries from the need for cleaning before consumption or further processing.

The right order makes the difference

Basically, for almost all berry varieties, the relatively sensitive fruits can only be stored for a very short time after harvesting. Berries can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of a few days, but changes in the consistency of the fruit must be accepted when they are frozen. If the currants, strawberries, raspberries or other berries are not really contaminated, they should first be placed in the refrigerator unwashed and only washed before consumption. Strawberries are initially stored with the stalks attached, while currants can initially be stored as bunches as picked. Only after washing are the strawberries cleaned or the currants picked apart.

Wash berries properly and store in the refrigerator

So that the sensitive fruits do not become mushy, they should never be sprayed under a hard jet of water. It is better to place the berries in a fine-mesh colander and lower it into a bowl filled with cold water. After about a minute of gently swirling in the water, the fruit can be lifted out and placed on kitchen paper to drain. If necessary, small amounts of lemon juice or vinegar can be added to the water as a cleaning agent and the procedure can be supplemented by washing with clear water. When storing in the refrigerator, the berries should be stored with the following factors in mind, if possible:

  • Avoid bruises: place the fruit in a single layer on a flat plate
  • Do not cover fruit: berries mold much faster in closed containers
  • Place kitchen paper underneath to absorb moisture
  • Always dry the berries and put them in the fridge

tips

In order to protect sensitive fruits such as raspberries and blackberries from contamination, it is advisable to tie up these plants using a climbing aid. The fruits can then be harvested much more conveniently and are protected as best as possible from contamination.

Category:

Vegetable garden