Your strawberries may be dirtier than you think — here’s how to clean them properly (2024)

Aside from simply being delicious when in-season, strawberries are an incredibly versatile fruit to have on hand — I love using them to make shortcakes, cobblers, ice cream and lemonade in the summer But before I even start to pull out any cooking gadgets or recipe booklets, I always make sure to thoroughly clean my berries, even if I only plan on eating them by hand. That’s because correctly cleaning your strawberries makes a difference in how they taste, how quickly they spoil and, in some cases, whether or not they’re crawling with tiny bugs.

I spoke with a culinary instructor and a professor of microbiology about the best ways to clean fresh fruit and asked them for tips and tricks to keep in mind before doing so.

Related

select

selectWhy the Beast blender is the future of trendy portable blenders

The best way to clean strawberries, according to experts

There are a few different cleaning methods you can adopt, which I outline in detail below based on advice I got from experts.

  1. Start by sorting through the unwashed strawberries and tossing out any that are visibly bruised, spoiled or moldy.
  2. If you don’t plan on eating the strawberries right away or using them for a recipe, keep them in the ventilated container they came in or transfer them to a food storage container that’s specifically designed for fresh produce.
  3. When you’re ready to use or eat your strawberries, transfer them to a colander, fine-mesh sieve or large glass bowl. You can either place the strawberries under cool running water in the sink, moving them around as needed and drain (if using a bowl) or go with the vinegar method. To do so, you can add the strawberries to a large glass bowl with 1 part distilled white vinegar to three parts cool water. Let the berries soak for about a minute or so, but no longer, as this can alter their texture and make them taste bland, according to Handal.
  4. Transfer the strawberries to a large cutting board or baking sheet lined with paper towels. Spread them out evenly so they aren’t overlapping. Gently press another paper towel onto the strawberries and dry thoroughly. The dryer the better, since residual moisture will lead to them spoiling faster.
  5. Transfer the strawberries to the basket of salad spinner lined with paper towels. Gently press the top pump at least a few times until the strawberries are completely dry.
Top-rated products for cleaning strawberries

All of the products below have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon.

Do you have to wash strawberries and other fresh produce?

In short: Yes. This is because, even if they look clean on the surface, they’re susceptible to dirt, bacteria, fungi and other microbes, according to Michael Handal, a chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE). “Commercial produce may also carry trace amounts of chemicals and pesticides,” he says. “Washing fresh produce before consuming or preparing meals is imperative and washing methods will vary depending on the type and characteristics of the produce you are preparing.”

How does vinegar help in cleaning strawberries?

While cool water does a decent job of cleaning surface-level impurities, you can take things a step further by using a combination of water and distilled vinegar, according to Dr. Sharon Nachman, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook University. “Vinegar is an acid,” she says. “And none of the bugs like acid and certainly bacteria don’t like acid.” The vinegar is what releases bugs and bacteria from the surface of the strawberries, she says.

Should you wash all of your strawberries at once or as you eat them?

It’s typically better to wash strawberries as you eat or prepare them compared to washing, drying and storing them all at once. That’s because washing them at once makes them more likely to spoil faster due to the buildup of moisture. “Strawberries should be stored, unwashed, in the plastic, clamshell-type containers they were purchased in,” says Handal. “An alternative would be storing them in a loose, plastic bag.”

While you can technically wash them all at once, it’s crucial to make sure you thoroughly dry themafterward and store them in a ventilated food container because excess moisture causes them to go bad faster. It’s also important to sort out visibly spoiled or bruised strawberries before putting them in the fridge, as this also contributes to the rest of the berries spoiling, according to Handal.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Why trust NBC Select?

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about kitchen products and cleaning hacks. I also have prior experience with recipe editing and writing explainers on food storage and cleaning. I spoke with two experts for their guidance for this story.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Cory Fernandez

Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor for Select on NBC News.

Your strawberries may be dirtier than you think — here’s how to clean them properly (2024)

FAQs

Your strawberries may be dirtier than you think — here’s how to clean them properly? ›

Step 1: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with four cups of water and stir until dissolved. Step 2: Add the strawberries to the mixture and toss them with clean hands. Step 3: Let the strawberries soak in the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. Step 4: Rinse the berries clean and then they're ready to eat.

How do you clean dirty strawberries? ›

In general, a quick cold-water rinse is enough to clean strawberries, says Ziata. Simply place the strawberries in a colander then hold it under cold running water to rinse the fruit.

How do you get rid of bacteria on strawberries? ›

According to the CDC, a vinegar wash helps remove grime, spores and bacteria and prevents the berries from getting mushy. Wash strawberries in a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 3 cups water. Then rinse your berries with clean water to remove any leftover vinegar. Pat dry with a clean paper towel.

Do strawberries need to be cleaned? ›

Why You Should Clean Strawberries. Unwashed berries, like many kinds of fresh produce, can have dirt, bacteria, and pesticides living on the surface. So, in order to not ingest said dirt, bacteria, and pesticides, it's super important to wash them thoroughly before you eat them!

Why are strawberries considered a dirty fruit? ›

March 20, 2024 – Government chemical testing of fresh produce showed that up to 95% of some of the most commonly purchased fruit and vegetables in the U.S. had detectable levels of pesticides, a new report claims.

Is it better to wash fruit with vinegar or baking soda? ›

Use apple cider or white vinegar for a 10-15 minute soak. Then rinse the fruit well. The benefit of baking soda (besides not having any kind of vinegar smell or taste lingering) is that it removes pesticides.

Should I soak strawberries in salt water? ›

"To avoid ingesting any of these potentially harmful components, it is very important to wash your strawberries before consuming them." To remove dirt, pesticides, and bacteria, soaking strawberries in a vinegar solution or a saltwater bath will ensure they're clean and safe to eat.

How to wash pesticides off of strawberries? ›

The results suggest that soaking strawberries in a 3% vinegar or 3% salt solution and rinsing them with running water is the recommended way to remove these four insecticides from strawberries during household washing.

How to wash strawberries to get bugs out? ›

The Best Way to Wash Strawberries, According to Driscoll

The Food and Drug Administration agrees, advising consumers to only use water and a vegetable brush to remove any dirt or potential unseen pathogens. They don't recommend special vegetable washes or soaps.

Can you clean strawberries with just water? ›

The best way to clean strawberries is under the sink faucet, whether in a colander or in your hands, running cold tap water over them gently for 10 to 20 seconds.

Do strawberries go bad faster when washed? ›

Moisture and heat promotes mold and spoiling more quickly. Do not rinse strawberries until you're ready to use them. Rinsing or washing strawberries will make them go bad faster. If you cannot sort and prepare your strawberries when you get home, put them in the refrigerator immediately.

What are the 12 dirty vegetables? ›

This is the complete list of the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest amounts of pesticides this year.
  • Strawberries.
  • Spinach.
  • Kale, collard & mustard greens.
  • Grapes.
  • Peaches.
  • Pears.
  • Nectarines.
  • Apples.
Mar 20, 2024

Does vinegar remove pesticides? ›

While you can remove pesticide residues using a soaking solution such as vinegar and water or salt and water, it's not advisable. There's a small risk the chemical reaction between the pesticides and the solution could produce potentially harmful compounds.

What are the safest strawberries to eat? ›

I spoke with Teresa Thorne from the Alliance for Food and Farming, who reaffirmed that “both organic and conventionally grown strawberries are very safe and can be eaten with confidence.

What do you soak strawberries in to get the bugs out? ›

According to the #strawberrieswithbugs challenge, submerging strawberries in salt water will cause strawberry bugs to crawl out. The type of bug varies— some TikToks show tiny white worms, while others reveal tiny fruit flies, spiders and mites.

Should you soak strawberries in salt water? ›

Soaking strawberries in salt water will help dislodge any hidden dirt or bugs. (Gross, we know.) That said, it's normal for there to be some earthy residue on the berries, but if you're particularly concerned about bugs, give them a soak in salt water.

Does washing strawberries in vinegar make them last longer? ›

If you're pressed for time, simply storing the strawberries in their original container after discarding any that are on the brink of spoiling is a great option — but if you have extra time, soaking them in a vinegar-water solution and drying them afterwards is a great way to extend their shelf life.

Do strawberries keep better washed or unwashed? ›

Strawberries will stay their freshest when dry and cold, and any added moisture will soften the strawberries and encourage mold growth. So instead of washing all of your berries right when you get home from the store, wash them as you plan to eat or prepare them.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 5850

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.