Berries are some of the most delicate treats in the garden, but they still need a good cleaning before you dig in. To make sure you don’t bruise them or cut their shelf life short, you’ve got to use a gentle touch. Here’s the lowdown on how to handle your harvest.
When should you wash your berries?
In a perfect world, berries taste best right off the bush while they’re still warm from the sun. That’s when the flavor is most intense. The problem is that washing them can easily damage their thin skins; once water gets in and mixes with the juice, the flavor can get a bit watered down. However, skipping the wash isn’t really an option—especially if you’re foraging for wild berries like forest blueberries.
Wild berries carry a risk of parasites (like fox tapeworm), so if you’re picking outside your own backyard, a thorough wash is a must. Even for homegrown fruit, I usually recommend a quick rinse, especially if:
- You have pets running around the yard.
- Neighborhood cats treat your garden like a playground.
- You use any fertilizers or sprays.
- Your garden is right next to a busy road.
If none of those apply, sneaking a berry straight from the bush isn’t the end of the world! But generally, a quick rinse is the way to go. Just make sure to inspect them first—look out for overripe spots, mold, or any tiny hitchhikers (bugs!) before they head to your mouth.
Wash before or after storing?
Berries don’t stay fresh for long. Unlike some fruits, they won’t ripen further once they’re picked, so you have to harvest them at their peak. You can get away with a few days in the fridge, but anything longer than that and you should probably look into freezing them (just keep in mind the texture will change once they thaw).
The golden rule is: Wait to wash your berries until right before you eat them. If they aren’t covered in dirt, put them in the fridge dry. Washing them too early introduces moisture that speeds up rot and shortens their shelf life. If you’re prepping them for the freezer, go ahead and wash them first. Pro tip: Leave currants on their stems and keep the hulls on your strawberries while washing to help them stay firm and fresh longer.
The right way to wash berries
Be gentle! Never blast your berries under a high-pressure faucet—that’s a one-way ticket to Mush-ville. Instead, place your berries in a colander and dip the whole thing into a bowl of cold water. Gently swirl the colander around a few times, then lift it out carefully. Let them drain for a moment, and they’re ready to enjoy!