Blueberry season begins in May, and more people will be purchasing these juicy berries for healthy breakfasts, outdoor picnics, or even homemade desserts. They tend to become more affordable at this time of year, but you will end up wasting money if you have to throw them out after a day if they become mouldy. It might sound strange, but blueberries are more likely to spoil if you keep them in the original supermarket container, since it's made of plastic, which encourages condensation.
Berries contain a lot of water, which evaporates as they are stored, and when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface, it will create condensation, which are tiny water droplets that can encourage mould growth. However, Lisa Childs, a cookbook author and founder of Tried, Tested, and True has shared there is an easy way to store blueberries properly so they last longer, as all you need are paper towels.
Lisa said: "Because the original berry containers are vented, berries stored in them will not last quite as long. To make your berries stay fresh longer, store berries in a large, shallow [containers] with an airtight lid, lined with paper towels."
Blueberries are often stored in plastic container with plenty of holes, which helps keep them fresh during transportation when there is plenty of air movement so moisture cannot build up.
However, fridges are very humid, and the blueberries are not moving about as much which causes moisture to build up inside the container and will eventually also cause mould.
Paper towels are the most useful item to store with blueberries as it will absorb any condensation that forms in the container, which will help keep the berries dry.
It also helps to store blueberries in an airtight food container, glass mason jars or even takeaway food traps as it stops them from piling on top of each other, which also keeps moisture away.
How to keep berries fresh for longer
To begin, make sure you are picking the best blueberries at the supermarket. Look for the ones at the very back of the aisle and do not buy any that look dark or wrinkly.
Next, when you get home from the shops, give them a good rinse under the tap to get rid of any bacteria and then place on a large pile of paper towels.
Add some more paper towels to an airtight food container, and then place your blueberries inside it.
Then, all you have to do is store your blueberries in the fridge. Make sure all the blueberries are completely dry as any excess moisture will encourage mould and decay.
Your blueberries should stay fresh at least a week longer than they normally would but some people have found this storage hack can extend their shelf life up to three weeks at times.
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