Fresh berries are delicious, but sometimes they have a short shelf life. You can easily extend the life of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries with this simple vinegar fruit wash. No one likes discovering a box of strawberries has already gotten soft and moldy. Mold is an easy problem to prevent by rinsing berries with a mixture of vinegar and water. This homemade berry wash is also great to use on berries that you pick from your garden!
Easy DIY Vinegar Fruit Wash
1 cup of white vinegar and 3 cups water.
I make this homemade vinegar fruit wash by mixing 1 cup of white vinegar with 3 cups of water in a bowl. Next, I prep strawberries, for example, by cutting the tops and stems off each one. You could also leave the strawberry stems in place. I don’t do much prep for raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
Next, I submerge the berries in the vinegar fruit wash and I stir them around a bit. Finally, I dump the berries in a colander and give them a good rinse with fresh water.
The sooner I wash the berries after buying them, the longer they last because the vinegar preserves their freshness and prevents mold spores from growing.
Air Dry and Refrigerate the Berries
I usually fully dry the berries on a paper towel or dishcloth. They’re ready to snack on and to garnish fruit salads and desserts. If you plan to freeze some of the berries, it’s helpful to fully dry them so they don’t freeze in clumps.
Once fully dried, I store the berries in a food storage container in the refrigerator. I use this anti-mold vinegar fruit wash to effectively prevent berries from becoming moldy. Vinegar fruit wash is especially helpful when we go to a you-pick farm and bring home a bunch of fresh berries. Over time, the berries will slowly soften but they won’t grow any mold. My kids love eating fresh berries. We also put them in healthy smoothies, mix berries into fruit salad, and use them to garnish fruit tarts, treats and desserts.
Easy Vinegar Berry Wash Steps
Step 1: Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 3 cups water.
Step 2: Prep the berries, removing stems and any leaves.
Step 3: Submerge the berries in the vinegar fruit wash.
Step 4: Drain the berries in a colander and rinse them with water.
Step 5: Air dry the berries and store them in a food container.
Step 6: Enjoy your fresh berries longer. I hope these tips help you keep your berries fresh!
Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 3 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, taking photos and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!
I like this idea. There is just my husband and me. Because I have diabetes, I have to be careful about the amount of fruit I eat each day. So, this will be helpful keeping the berries fresh. A couple of question, approximately how long do they keep? Does this… Read more »