Handling and storage for fresh fruit
While fresh berries are always best eaten as soon as you get them, there are things you can do to keep them fresh for as long as possible. To keep them fresh as long as possible, most berries should be stored in dry refrigeration at 32° to 34°. After you get the berries home, place them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Check your berries every couple days, and discard berries that are starting to turn, as this will slow the rate of decomposition from berry to berry.
Freezing berries
If you are going to use fresh berries in smoothies or other baking recipes, try freezing them. Proper freezing will keep berries tasting great for months. When freezing, a simple freezer-quality zip lock bag works best. Get as much air out of the bags as you can without crushing the berries. Frozen berries are a super snack any time of the year. Just break a few apart from your bag, and let them thaw in a bowl for a few minutes – or rinse with cold water if you want them thawed sooner (do not rinse in hot water).
Notes for specific berries:
- Blueberries
- Blueberries should not be damp because moisture speeds up the rate of decay.
- Shelf life for Hurst’s blueberries is 7 to 14 days.
- For best flavor, they should be consumed within one week.
- Blueberries are excellent for freezing
- Blackberries
- Blackberries should not be damp because moisture speeds the rate of decay.
- Shelf life is approximately one week after picking, or three to five days after they reach your market.
- Excellent for freezing
- Raspberries
- Hurst’s red raspberries should not be damp because moisture speeds the rate of decay.
- Shelf life is approximately one week after picking, or three to five days after delivery to your market.
- Excellent for freezing
- Kiwi Berries
- Kiwi berries should not be damp because moisture speeds up the rate of decay.
- Shelf life, once they reach your market, is 7 to 14 days.
- For best flavor, they should be consumed within one week.
- Kiwi berries are ripe when the berry feels soft to the touch.
- Currants
- Currants should not be damp because moisture speeds the rate of decay.
- Their shelf life is approximately 5 to 8 days.
- Gooseberries
- Gooseberries should not be damp because moisture speeds the rate of decay.
- Shelf life is approximately three weeks after picking.
- Cranberries
- Cranberries should not be damp because moisture speeds up the rate of decay.
- Shelf life for Hurst’s cranberries is 3 to 4 weeks.
- For best flavor, they should be consumed within one week.
- Cranberries are excellent for freezing. They will keep well for up to 12 months when frozen.