Whats sweeter than your first bite into a perfectly ripe ruby red berry?

The only thing that can ruin something so sweet?

Digging into a juicy strawberry coated with a little too much grit and grime from the patch.

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Itsberry(ha) easy to do.

She notes that you should see any residue float to the surface.

The baking soda helps to remove any dirt from the surface of the fruit.

Broth in Bowl on gray background, healthy food, top view.

spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Although, when in a pinch, Smith-Chapman says store-bought vegetable wash will also do.

But baking soda is a more affordable option, she reiterates.

(And arguably more effective, too.)

Close-up of sliced purple cabbage,

When preparing any fresh produce, start with clean hands, saysAmanda Turney, a spokesperson for the FDA.

Seems like a no-brainer, but youd be surprised how often this step gets skipped.

Then, remove any bruised, rotten, or otherwise damaged parts of your strawberries.

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In this case, its likely safest to discard the entire berry, asconsuming moldy foodscan cause serious illness.

Youll want to double-check you get each strawberry in the washing process, stems included.

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4. you could lay them down on a towel to speed up the drying process, too.

A hand is stirring a sourdough starter in a glass jar, on a kitchen countertop. The light casts a warm glow, highlighting the ingredients inside the jar.

spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

She notes that if you stick to this, your fresh strawberries should last about a week.

The key is to eliminate as much moisture from the exterior as possible.

Should you wait to wash your strawberries until right before eating them?

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Can you freeze strawberries?

Cant make it through your entire strawberry stash before it starts to grow mold?

Smith-Chapman says you’ve got the option to freeze them instead.

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Wash and dry them as directed above, and place the container in the freezer.

Once frozen, you’re able to move them into another bag to store.

Pro tip: Smith-Chapman keeps the stems on (goodbye, food waste).

Pro tip: Smith-Chapman keeps the stems on (goodbye, food waste).

And in 2024and seven-plus years priorthe dirtiest of the dozen is none other than the beloved strawberry.

To be clear, thisdoesntimply that you should avoid consuming strawberries by any means.

On the contrary, simply knowing how to wash strawberries correctly is more than enough.

But this reality is due in part to the way that strawberries are grown.

Strawberries dont have such a luxury.

But learning how to wash strawberries with the guidance of experts can potentially help spare you some concern.

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