Should Berries Be Rinsed Before Storing? An Expert Weighs In

From crumbles to pies to garnishes for our iced tea, Southerners love to use berries in a variety of ways and with different berries in season all year long, there’s no shortage of the deliciously tart, tangy, sweet fruits.  While we all know you should be rinsing your berries — in order to rid them of any dirt, small bugs, and pesticides — there is some confusion about when the best time to do so is.

Best Time To Wash Berries

It’s actually best to clean them right before consumption. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not ideal to rinse your berries as soon as you get them home. “For most types of berries I don't usually rinse them until just before I use them, since moisture on the surface of the berry can make them spoil more quickly,” says Kierin Baldwin, chef-instructor of Pastry & Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education.

Should You Rinse Berries Before Storing?

Some people swear by a quick rinse in a mixture of vinegar and water to prevent mold, which Baldwin says is a practice she follows with berries that are on the more tender side. “Sometimes if I have particularly tender berries that I want to last for a few days, I will rinse them with a mix of white vinegar and water, and then dry them gently and store in a container with paper towels to absorb any remaining moisture,” says Baldwin.  

Washing these types of berries requires great care so that you don’t damage or crush them in the process of cleaning them. “I would not say that washing them before storage is necessary, but it can help extend the shelf life of your berries in the fridge if you do it carefully,” says Baldwin. “When doing so, it’s really important to dry them properly as you might introduce excess moisture, which will lead to faster spoilage and mold growth.”

Should You Wash Berries Before Eating Them?

“I prefer to wash berries before eating them to be sure that there is no dirt stuck to them,” says Baldwin. “Also, conventionally grown berries are one of the foods most likely to have pesticide residue, so I feel better when I've washed them to remove as much of it as possible. That said, if I get really wonderful organic raspberries from the farmer's market, I will often just eat them straight out of the container on the walk home.”

The Best Way To Rinse Berries

Cold water is really all you need, When it comes to rinsing your berries.

Deep-Clean

Soak them for a few minutes in a 3-to-1 mixture of water and white vinegar is the way to go, before rinsing.

The Best Way To Store Berries

“Generally storing them in a way that spreads them out and prevents them from being piled on top of one another or pressed together will help extend their shelf-life,” says Baldwin.

Berries are one of the few foods that don’t do best in an airtight container as they are prone to molding when sealed — though a paper towel on the bottom of the container can help soak up extra moisture. 

“I prefer to have a bit of ventilation so they don't retain as much moisture, since retained moisture makes an ideal environment for mold growth,” says Baldwin who shares that she frequently spreads her berries in a single layer on sheet pans lined with towels and stores them uncovered in the fridge just like that.

How Long Berries Last In The Refrigerator

“The answer to this question depends on a lot of factors, most importantly what type of berry it is and what variety,” says Baldwin.

Raspberries, blackberries, and currants which have delicate skins, desiccate quickly and crush very easily, and will not last nearly as long as large strawberries or berries with firm skins like blueberries or gooseberries. 

• For delicate berries: Baldwin suggests that when it comes to delicate berries, like raspberries or tender farmer's market strawberries, only buy as much as you can use in two to three days.
• For those less delicate berries, like supermarket strawberries and blueberries, plan to use them within four to five days — though they may last a little longer. Make sure to check the berries regularly for signs of spoilage and discard any moldy or mushy berries.