Berries are another common fruit which can go funny after just a few days – but one unlikely kitchen ingredient could actually prolong their life
Berries are a staple food in many households – they belong in yogurts, granola and fruit salads and are simply refreshing. But they come with one irritating factor – they can go off very quickly.
Sometimes they can start festering fluffy mould after just one to two days, and they’re never a cheap fruit to buy from the supermarket shelves which means they can be a huge waste of money if they are not eaten in time.
According to Eating Well, one of the most effective ways to prolong the shelf life of berries is vinegar water. As shown on a viral TikTok video, chef Yumna Jawad from Feel Good Foodie revealed that vinegar is the secret ingredient.
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Sean Brady Kennif, Eating Well’s senior digital food editor, said: “It’s not exactly that vinegar itself extends the life of berries. It’s the fact that vinegar is so acidic that it kills or inhibits the growth of a lot of the bacteria and fungus, including mould, that may grow on berries, which makes the fruit last longer.”
How can I add vinegar to my berries?
Interested in trying the hack? You just have to mix one cup of white vinegar with four cups of water in a bowl. Then, soak the berries in the vinegar-water mixture for five minutes , before rinsing them again thoroughly with water.
The editor said that rinsing them properly will eliminate the vinegary flavour. Most importantly, when transferring them into a container, place a paper towel or a cloth to remove excess moisture. Otherwise, they’ll go bad in a blink of an eye. Keep them in the fridge, but with the lid slightly open, so they can breathe.
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Using vinegar on fruits like berries helps prevent mould growth. Nonetheless, this also depends on other factors, such as how they’re being handled, the freshness when purchased and where they’re being kept.
By using vinegar on berries and raspberries, your fruits will last for a week or even more. It’s also important to spot and remove any spoiled berries, so it doesn’t spoil the rest. I mean, that’s quite obvious, right?
Vinegar also works wonders for other fruits, such as raspberries and strawberries. It’s also essential to clean the fridge regularly, as this is one of the main reasons food tends to go bad faster.
