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Strawberries
If you love strawberries or just have questions about them, we have the answers! We have put together helpful tips from choosing and picking to storing and preparing them and we even added some of our favourite strawberry recipes for you to try.
Is there anything more luscious than a sweet, juicy, fragrant, ripe strawberry? For many people, fresh strawberries are a perfect spring and summer treat.
You don’t want to waste a single one, so let us help you select, store and use them all.
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Season
- Fresh and frozen strawberries can be found in grocery stores all year round.
- The sweetest fresh strawberries are available in spring and summer.
- Local berries are in farmer’s markets or available at You-Pick farms in Alberta in July and August.
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Types
- June-bearing: flowers and produces fruit in early summer.
- Ever-bearing: flowers and produces fruit several times throughout the season.
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Selection
- Whether buying from a store or picking off the plants, select firm, plump, bright red berries.
- Strawberries do not continue to ripen after being picked and their sugars quickly change to starches.
- Handle carefully as the flesh bruises easily.
- Different species range from small to large and size does not indicate flavour or juiciness.
- Often home-grown strawberries are small but very flavourful and juicy.
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Picking
- Grasp the stem with your thumb and forefinger just above the berry while cupping the berry in your palm. Twist and pull the berry to remove it from the plant.
- Place berries carefully in a container, only about 4 or 5 inches deep. Any more and the bottom berries will bruise.
- Try to pick in the early morning or on a cool day. Berries picked when it is hot will bruise more easily and not keep as long.
- Get picked berries into a cool place as soon as possible.
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Storage
- Do not wash berries until you are ready to use them.
- Fresh, unwashed strawberries can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator.
- Berry or produce keepers are available that store the fruit in a basket with airflow. This will extend how long your strawberries stay fresh.
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Preparation
- Wash just before using by rinsing in cool running water; dry thoroughly.
- Remove any leaves and stems and carefully remove hulls (center of the fruit), if desired.
- Remove as little of the fruit as possible. A strawberry huller can be purchased and makes removing the cap or leaf end much easier.
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Eating
- Strawberries are enjoyed in many ways raw and cooked. Preserving by canning, freezing or making into jam means you can enjoy strawberries at any time.
- Raw strawberries are found in fruit trays with dip, in salads, drinks and smoothies, and in fondues.
- Cooked strawberries are in ice cream, gelato, pies, cakes, crisps and other desserts, and even as a chilled soup.
- To preserve strawberries, they can be frozen, made into jams, and canned.
Try some of our favourite recipes:
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DifficultWhole Fruit Strawberry Jam
If you prefer chunks of fruit in your jam, then you will love this easy and tasty jam recipe, a burst of fruit in every bite.
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MediumMint Strawberry Shortcakes
Strawberry shortcake is a classic summer dessert that tastes best when you make everything from scratch. This recipe shows you how to make your own sweet biscuits and then top them with minted fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
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EasyFrozen Strawberry Margarita Mousse
Cool off with a frozen cocktail for dessert! These cups of velvety strawberry mousse are spiked with tequila and triple sec.
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EasyStrawberry Crisp
Bake fresh strawberries under an almond-studded oatmeal crust to make this delicious summer dessert. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream.