
Summer is the month for berries, with blueberries in season until early September. These healthy fruits are delcious on yhogurt or baked into muffins, however, they can spoil quickly. It's nothing short of exasperating to see your freshly bought blueberries turn into a mouldy mess in no time at all.
It comes as a surprise to many that these berries shouldn't be kept in plastic and ought to be removed from their supermarket packaging as soon as you bring them home. The high moisture content in berries creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria when confined in plastic, resulting in unappetising fuzzy mould. Amy Cross, founder of The Cross Legacy and storage maestro, has shared a nifty trick to keep your blueberries fresh for weeks instead of mere days - and the secret ingredient is just a splash of vinegar.
Amy advises: "Washing blueberries, the correct way, as well as storing them in mason jars or glass containers, will extend their shelf life to six to eight weeks! This allows you to enjoy fresh blueberries for months."
While it might seem odd, a bit of white vinegar, potent enough to eradicate existing bacteria on your berries, can significantly diminish the risk of mould.
Using vinegar is a savvy, natural method to preserve the freshness of blueberries, and rest assured, it won't tamper with their taste as long as they're rinsed properly.
Indeed, the only thing required to maintain blueberries' freshness for an extended period is simple household white vinegar found in the sauce or salad aisle of most grocers.
Soak your blueberries for a precise two-minute dip to avoid spoiling their taste, advises Amy, adding: "Set a timer for two minutes and allow the blueberries to soak in the vinegar rinse."
Once they've had their brief soak, arrange the blueberries on a tea towel to air dry until thoroughly moisture-free.
For optimal storage, pop the fruit in a glass jar with a lid - it's the secret to preventing moisture that leads to mould thanks to better air flow.
Chuck a paper towel in at the bottom of the container for an additional freshness trick - it's a clever way to soak up any extra dampness from the berries.
Stash your berry treasure trove in the fridge, and you're all set for succulent blueberries all through the summer - just spare three smart minutes for this top-notch storage method.
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