Sassy Mama's tips for strawberry season

It’s strawberry season, and the Metro Tech Kitchen is serving up expert advice on how to get the most out of your favorite fresh fruit — from shopping smart to keeping them sweet and fresh at home.

Strawberries are at their peak right now, especially those grown in the United States. According to the Strawberry Growers Association, berries picked in California and Florida are typically packaged right in the fields and arrive on store shelves within three to four days, making them the freshest option available.

“You want to get American strawberries because the strawberries that are being picked right now in Florida, in California, those strawberries are the very freshest,” Sassy Mama said. “They are not getting any fresher than that.”

On the other hand, strawberries imported from Mexico may look large and vibrant on the outside, but they often lack flavor. “They’ve been picked a week or two before,” Sassy Mama said. “They’ll be big, but you’ll cut through them, and they’re going to be white in the center and not sweet.”

What to Look For When Buying Strawberries

To make sure you're picking the best berries in the store, inspect the packaging carefully:

1. Turn the container over to check for mush or mold.
2. Look for berries that are as red as possible with minimal white coloring.
3. Avoid berries with large white areas, as they’re likely underripe and flavorless.

How to Store and Wash Strawberries

The biggest mistake shoppers make after bringing strawberries home? Washing them immediately.

“Water is the enemy of fresh strawberries unless you plan to eat them immediately,” Sassy Mama said. Washing them prematurely can accelerate spoilage.

Instead, store them unwashed in the fridge and only wash when you’re ready to eat. When that time comes, here’s a tip from the Strawberry Growers Association:

1. Rinse the berries in cold water with a little baking soda to help eliminate bacteria.
2. Dip them gently, then pat them dry with a towel.
3. Let them sit at room temperature before serving for the best flavor.

“Berries taste the best when they’re not cold,” Sassy Mama said, noting that drying them thoroughly can preserve their taste and shelf life. “I know this is a lot of work, but it is expensive. And so we want to keep everything as fresh as long as we can.”

With these tricks, Oklahoma berry lovers can stretch their grocery dollars and savor the sweetest strawberries of the season, one bite at a time.