How long do strawberries last?
The berries looked perfect at the store. Two days later there's a soft one in the corner of the box. Strawberries turn fast, so here's how to keep them going a little longer.
By Justin and Mary KatzmanTwo to three days in the fridge and 8 to 12 months in the freezer. Keep them in the fridge, not the pantry.
The freezer turns three days into 12 months.
Strawberries, case by case
After washing
One to two days in the fridge. Dry them well on paper towels first, because water left on the skin speeds up mold. Wash only what you'll eat soon.
After cutting
About one day in a covered container in the fridge. Cut berries soften and leak juice quickly, so slice them close to serving.
Left out at room temperature
Up to about a day on the counter for whole berries, and they soften fast. Cut berries follow the two-hour rule, or one hour above 90°F (32°C).
Signs strawberries have gone bad
- There's fuzzy grey or white mold.
- Berries are mushy or leaking juice.
- They smell fermented or like vinegar.
Before you toss them
Past their best but still safe? Try one of these.
- Soft but not moldy? Hull them and simmer with a spoonful of sugar and a squeeze of lemon for ten minutes. You get a quick sauce for yogurt, pancakes or ice cream.
- Blend them into smoothies or freeze them for later. Berries that are a little mushy are fine for both.
- Slice them, toss with a little sugar, and let them sit for 20 minutes. The juice that pools is great over shortcake or stirred into sparkling water.
How to store strawberries
- Keep them in one layer in a container lined with a paper towel.
- Pull out any moldy berry right away so it doesn't spread.
- To freeze, hull them, freeze on a tray, then bag them.
Strawberries by the numbers
The average American goes through about 0.1 lb a week. If your household eats less than that, buy smaller and less ends up in the trash.
A 12 oz pint at $2.84 keeps about three days in the fridge. Frozen, it keeps 12 months. Buy the bigger pack only if you'll use it in time.
What strawberries cost now
$2.84 a 12 oz pint, down 2% since January 2020. It's usually cheapest in July, about 17% under its yearly average.
National average price per 12 oz pint, monthly. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cook it before it turns
Nine Haivenly starter recipes use strawberries. Here are a few to start with.
Questions about strawberries
How long do strawberries last in the fridge?
Two to three days from purchase, going by USDA FoodKeeper guidance. Your fridge temperature and how fresh it was when you bought it can change that, so check it before you use it.
Can you freeze strawberries?
Yes, for about 8 to 12 months. Hull them, spread the berries in a single layer on a tray until solid, then bag them. They won't clump, and they'll be soft once thawed, so use them in smoothies, sauces and baking.
Should you wash strawberries before storing them?
No. Wash them right before eating. Water left on the skin encourages mold and softens the berries. Store them unwashed in a container lined with a paper towel.
What if only one strawberry has mold?
Remove the moldy berry right away, and check the others carefully. Soft fruit can have mold below the surface, and a berry touching the moldy one may be affected. Throw out any that are fuzzy or leaking. Firm, clean berries nearby are generally fine.
Why are my strawberries white or hard inside?
They were picked before they were fully ripe. Strawberries don't ripen further once picked, so leaving them on the counter won't sweeten them. They're safe to eat, and are best sliced with a little sugar or baked.
Do strawberries last longer in the fridge or on the counter?
In the fridge. On the counter they only keep a day or so before softening. Keep them in a loosely covered container or the original ventilated clamshell, and take them out about 20 minutes before eating for better flavor.
Use every last bit of your strawberries.
The average American tosses about $8 of strawberries a year. Haivenly learns how fast your household goes through it, so you hear about it while there's still time to cook it.
More foods to check
Avocado
Produce- Fridge
- 3–4 days
- Freezer
- Not advised
- Pantry
- Until ripe
Spinach
Produce- Fridge
- 3–7 days
- Freezer
- Not advised
- Pantry
- Keep cold
Cooked chicken
Leftovers- Fridge
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- 2–3 months
- Pantry
- Keep cold
Raw chicken breast
Meat & poultry- Fridge
- 1–2 days
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- 9 months
- Pantry
- Keep cold
Eggs
Dairy & eggs- Fridge
- 3–5 weeks
- Freezer
- Not advised
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- Keep cold
Milk
Dairy & eggs- Fridge
- Use-by date
- Freezer
- 3 months
- Pantry
- Keep cold