Now we will deal with raspberries, a favorite fruit of many people. You probably know a lot about raspberries, but in this article we will tell you something more about this fruit and its shelf life. You will learn how to store raspberries properly, if you want to extend their shelf life.
Also, we will tell you how to be sure if your raspberries are still safe or they have gone bad.
More about Raspberries
Raspberries are edible fruits of the rose family. Actually, the raspberry is a perennial plant with woody stems and its edible fruits are also called raspberries. Raspberries are grown all over the world and they are an important commercial fruit crop. Raspberries are rich in vitamin C, but also in manganese and dietary fiber. They don’t contain starch and the sugar content in raspberries is only 4%. Raspberries have many health benefits for people. If you also enjoy eating raspberries, you may be wondering how long they can last.
The Shelf Life of Raspberries
The shelf life of raspberries and other berries depends mostly on the way of their storage. If there are proper conditions, raspberries will last longer. It is known that raspberries last a little longer than strawberries.
The shelf life of raspberries is only a couple of days, but not more than a week after you purchase them. If you want to avoid any risk of eating spoiled food, it is best to eat raspberries right away. If you want to store raspberries for a long term, it is best to freeze them. This way raspberries can stay fresh for up to one year and you can use them for different culinary purposes. If you store them properly, they won’t lose their flavor and texture and you will easily defrost them.
How to Store Raspberries Properly?
Proper storage conditions are the most important when it comes to the shelf life of raspberries.
The first rule is that you should discard any moldy or bruised raspberries before storing them in the fridge or in the freezer. It is always best to eat raspberries fresh. You need only to wash them carefully under running water or you can use a water spray. If you will not eat raspberries immediately, but you will eat them within a few days, put them in a shallow container, cover them with a plastic wrap and place them in the fridge. It is important not to wash raspberries until you decide to eat them, because the moisture during the storage can accelerate decay of raspberries. You should wash the raspberries just before using.
If you want to store raspberries for a long term, then you should first wash them in cold water and place them in the freezer. It is best to place raspberries in a single layer on a cookie tray and to freeze them. When the raspberries are frozen, then you should transfer them to an airtight container and return them to the freezer. Also, you can put raspberries in heavy-duty freezer bags.
How to Tell if Raspberries Have Gone Bad?
If your raspberries have gone bad you will notice moldy, black or slimy spots on them.
Also, they will smell sour and the taste won’t be the same. In this case you should discard them.
Summary
As you have read in this article, raspberries can’t last too long. Their shelf life is only a few days, but if not stored properly they can go bad much quicker.
If raspberries are frozen in airtight containers, they will last for up to a year.
