How to wash strawberries, blueberries and raspberries thoroughly: Video tutorial

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‘Tis the season for perfectly ripe and especially delicious fresh fruit.

Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are enjoyable as they are, with dessert, mixed in a refreshing drink and in so many other ways. But before you do anything with the berries, you need to give them a good wash. It's normal for fruit to be dirty, so a good soak can eliminate any microbes, mold or bacteria living on the fruit.

Washing berries as soon as you get home from the store or farmers market and then properly storing them can help them stay fresh for longer. Plus, they'll be ready for consumption whenever you want to grab a handful!

Watch this video to see how to wash and store berries to keep them fresh longer. 

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Best way to clean fruit

It takes more than just water to get your berries clean. Consider a mix of water and hydrogen peroxide or vinegar to give the berries the clean they need.

• To wash fruit with hydrogen peroxide: Mix one part water with one part 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let the berries soak for three to five minutes. 
• To wash fruit with vinegar: Mix one part white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar with three parts water. Let the berries soak for five to 10 minutes.

When the berries are done soaking, gently rinse them with water. Leave them on a clean kitchen towel to air dry, or use a salad spinner for a fast dry.

It's important to keep moisture away from the berries. Line storage containers with paper towels or a kitchen towel to absorb any moisture that might try to sneak in with the berries. Depending on the fruit and size of the container, you can create shallow layers, alternating berries and towels.

Once they're cleaned and contained, store the berries in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.