Storing Your Berries Like This Will Make Them Last Four Times Longer

How many times have you purchased berries and within a couple of days seen them turn into a scary science experiment? If you’re like me, that number is far higher than you’d like it to be. You can blame plenty of different factors for their demise (time in transit, for example), but did you know there are a few hacks that can help extend the life of your berries? We put two of the internet’s favorites to the test.

But First, Why Do Berries Mold So Quickly? 

The moisture naturally present inside fruit  keeps it plump and juicy, but once the fruit is picked, it no longer has a source for hydration. Over time, water will leach out of the fruit, and if it's in a container, the moisture will remain trapped inside. This creates a humid environment that can be troublesome, because moisture, temperature change, and darkness can contribute to mold development. 

The Mason Jar Berry Hack

We keep seeing this trending hack for storing berries in mason jars to make them last longer, so we decided to put it to the test against our favorite paper towel method, which involves opening your store-bought berry container, placing a clean, dry paper towel on top of the berries, closing it, and storing it upside down in the refrigerator. Here's what happened:

How To Store Your Berries in Mason Jars 

Admittedly, this method requires a bit more effort up-front compared to the paper towel method. You start by washing and drying your fruit before adding it to a clean jar. The catch is that your fruit must be completely dry, which can take awhile. This is especially true for berries like raspberries and blackberries, which have plenty of ridges and bumps where moisture can hang out. To put this method to the test, I tried it with raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. 

Steps for Storing Berries in Mason Jars

1. Remove berries from original packaging and place them in a colander. Give them a quick, gentle rinse under cool or cold, running water.
2. Transfer berries to paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Spread them out in an even layer to allow airflow between them to expedite drying. 
3. Check on berries after an hour to see if they’re dry. If not, give them a gentle stir with your hands or gently pat them dry. 
4. Once completely dry, move them to a clean mason jar. Cover with a lid and refrigerate. 
5. Check on berries about 1 hour after refrigeration to see if there is any noticeable moisture on the jar or berries. If so, remove them from the jar and repeat the drying process.   

It took a few hours on a clean towel to remove the moisture on my raspberries and blackberries. And even after I put them in the lidded jar in the fridge, I noticed condensation. The raspberries required two “re-drys” and the blackberries just one. 

Does Storing Berries in Jars Make Them Last Longer? 

The jarred berries looked great after one week. They had lost a bit of moisture, but not as much as the berries I tested using the paper-towel method. This isn’t too surprising since they were in a sealed container and had no paper towel for soaking up moisture.

After two weeks, the berries still looked good. They were plumper than their paper-towel counterparts at the same two-week timestamp and were still viable for fresh applications, like adding to cereal or salad. Out of all three berries, the raspberries and blackberries fared the best. They were firm without much noticeable moisture at the bottom of the jar. The strawberries, however, did have a small pool of water at the bottom of the jar, which made the berries on the bottom a bit mushy and unappealing.

I have two theories on why this hack works. First, rinsing the berries may help remove any unwanted bugs or dirt that can contribute to mold or deterioration. Second, ensuring the berries are completely dry promotes a low-moisture environment that berries like for storage. Lastly, because there’s no air-flow, the berries retain their moisture, keeping them plump and juicy.

Overall, this method seems to work better than the paper-towel method for storing berries. 

Bottom Line

Both methods work great for extending the life of your berries. But if you’re looking for the better-tasting, longer-lasting solution, you’ll want to try this mason jar hack. It requires a few extra steps up-front, but the reward is delicious berries you can enjoy for weeks, instead of just days.