It’s important to wash strawberries before you eat them, just like all the fresh fruits and vegetables you eat. These are some very simple tips for washing strawberries so you can enjoy them without worrying!
Do You Need to Wash Strawberries?
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Yes, you need to wash strawberries. And, no, I’m not worried about the “dirty dozen” thing. All fruits and vegetables need to be washed before you eat them. Everything – whether it’s organic, conventional, from your local farmer’s market, or even from your garden.
I’m not worried about pesticides. Farmers have very strict guidelines about what kinds of pesticides they can use, how much, and when. And all fresh fruits and vegetables are washed before they get to your grocery store.
I’m worried about bacteria. Bacteria are everywhere, and they get on everything. Most bacteria won’t make us sick. But some bacteria can make you sick. Correctly washing strawberries – or any other fruit or vegetable – is important to keep you and your family healthy.
Wondering about those bacteria? Check out this little experiment we did to see how much bacteria are on our hands at different times of the day, including right after working in the garden!
How to Wash Strawberries
Strawberries should not be washed until you’re ready to eat them. Any moisture left on the strawberries will make them get moldy faster.
Only wash as many strawberries as you are planning to use. If you only need a few for a snack, put them in a colander and rinse under cool, running water. If you’ll be using the whole container of strawberries, you can rinse them right in the original container! The plastic clamshells most strawberries come in are vented, including with vents on the bottom of the container. You can use that as a colander.
Once the strawberries have been rinsed, pat them dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel, or gently spin them dry in a berry spinner.
That’s it, you’re done! It only takes a few seconds to wash strawberries. Pretty simple, right?
Get everything you ever wanted to know about strawberries in this episode of My Fearless Kitchen TV.
3 Ways to Take the Fear Out of Your Kitchen
- How to Choose Strawberries – free printable!
- How to Wash Fresh Produce
- Breaking Down the Top 5 Food Myths
3 More Recipes to Try
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