How to choose strawberries and blueberries in the store so that the berries are tasty and stored for a long time

Strawberries and blueberries are regularly promoted as healthy foods. But these berries spoil quickly, so buying them is unprofitable - there is a risk of throwing half into the trash. However, if you know how to choose the right fresh strawberries and blueberries, the berries will last longer.

TikTok user Meredith Alston (@naptown_thrifts) shared a hack on how to buy fresh strawberries and blueberries at the grocery store. Elston explained that when her husband buys the berries, they are “much tastier” and “keep much longer” than the ones she buys. Secret? “He flips the packaging and only buys those boxes where the berries don't stick to the bottom.”

Over the weekend, the video gained over a million views, with many saying they already knew the trick and really thought it was effective.

“I have been doing this for many years. I stand and check them all until I find the right one, ”wrote one of Elston’s subscribers.

“I always do this, especially with tomatoes,” agreed the second.

“I analyze every box of berries like a scientist,” admitted a third.

Others shared their tactics on how to buy fresh berries from the store.

“Anything that is moldy, overripe or broken, I put back. You can also smell them. They should smell slightly sweet, with no off-flavours or nauseatingly sweet odors,” said one user.

“I eat one berry from a pack, and if it tastes good, I take them for myself,” commented the second.

“Get the ones at the back of the shelf. It is more than likely that these berries are the freshest,” advised a third.

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Some also shared different ways to keep berries fresh.

“My best advice is to soak them in water with grapefruit seed extract powder and they will keep for weeks!” one person shared.

“Wash them at home in vinegar and water, dry them and store them in an airtight container, they last a long time,” advised a second.

“After cleaning and removing the stems, store them in jars. Literally for centuries,” said a third.

So how can you tell if you've picked a bad batch of fruit? The answer is simple: weight, smell, color and elasticity are the most important signs of rotten fruit. As the fruit ripens, it becomes heavier, softer and less firm. In addition, their color becomes bright, and the smell becomes rich and sweet.