How To Store Raspberries

Having long-lasting raspberries starts with choosing and buying the right ones. There are a few aspects you need to focus on, starting with ripeness and color.

Buying the berries at a farmer’s market ensures you get the best quality. Farmers pluck them off the trees the very morning that they are sold. They are also not washed because moisture can shorten their shelf life.

A ripe raspberry has a vibrant, deep red color. Ones packed in containers should be the same color. If not, some will not rot before the rest. Avoid any pale-colored raspberries, as they are not ripe yet, and maroon-purplish ones, as they are over-ripe.

Ideally, the berry should be plump and slightly soft but not mushy with leaking juices. Also, check the bottom of the container and avoid it if there is moisture and mold, for it is an indicator of spoilage.

The first thing most of us do when we get home is wash our raspberries. We are in a hurry to clean them, but cleaning them with water introduces moisture, which leads to the berries getting mushy and spoiling faster. Moisture also causes mold to grow, which is the last thing we want. 

Before washing the berries, you need to sort through them. Throw away moldy, mushy, or damaged berries before washing them. The remaining fresh berries should be cleaned with white vinegar. Soaking the berries in  5% distilled white vinegar kills off mold spores and extends their shelf life.

This method is ideal when you have a large quantity of raspberries and need them to last for weeks. If you have stock that only lasts a few days, you should only wash your berries if you are eating them. 

• Fill a large bowl with ¼ cup of 5% distilled white vinegar and 2 cups of cool water.
• Put in the berries and soak for a minute.
• Ensure you have a timer on because if you soak the berries too long, they absorb the vinegar flavor.
• After 2 minutes, rinse the berries in a colander with cool water.
• Place the berries on a paper towel upside down to remove excess moisture.
• Leave them at room temperature for several hours until they are completely dry. 

Once the berries are dry, it is time to store them in the fridge. The best way to store raspberries is in a breathable container with air holes so that they can breathe. You can store the berries in the punnet they came in or use a produce keeper.

These produce keepers are made of glass to keep the berries fresh. It has a removable colander to allow air circulation and minimal berry rotting. It also has a carbon filter that keeps bacteria at bay and a loose-fitting lid to let excess moisture escape. 

Avoid air-tight containers as they limit oxygen.

• Line the berries properly instead of dumping them in the container because overcrowded berries get smushed easily and spoil faster.
• You can toss a sheet of FreshPaper into the container before putting your berries in the fridge.
• These compostable paper sheets infused with organic spices inhibit bacterial and fungal growth and enzymes that cause over-ripening.
• When storing the berries in the fridge, store them near the front and not the end. Having them in the front serves as a reminder that you have berries in the fridge that you need to use them.
• Avoid placing them in the back of the fridge where humidity levels are high, as this can accelerate spoilage and mold growth.
• Do not place them in the veggie crisper drawer as well. Moisture builds up in the drawer.

Even when you store your raspberries properly, you might still have to throw them away because you could not use them in time. This could happen if you have too much fruit yield or if you have too many fruits in the fridge. In such cases, you can freeze them to make them last longer. 

It is the same as storing your raspberries in the fridge:

• Selecting the best berries, tossing out the spoiled ones, rinsing them in vinegar diluted with cold water, and carefully and thoroughly patting them dry.
• After the berries are dry, line them in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.
• Ensure there are gaps between each berry. You do not want to crowd them on the tray.
• Place the tray in the freezer for one to two hours. After two hours, take out the berries from the freezer and put them in a sealable bag before storing them in the freezer.
• Use a silicone ziptop bag as they are sturdier and less prone to punctures and tears compared to plastic freezer bags.
• They are also reusable. Before storing the bad in the freezer, remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
• You can use the berries for a year. 

When you are ready to use your raspberries, you can defrost or thaw them using the fridge or microwave. Note that leftover thawed berries cannot be frozen again, so it is better to only thaw what you need.

Fridge

Defrosting the berries in the fridge requires time, but it results in better flavor and texture. 

• Take out your sealed frozen berries.
• Place the berries in a bowl.
• Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
• If you need it on the same day, leave it on the kitchen countertops at room temperature.  
• This might result in mushy berries with less flavor.

Microwave

If you need the berries immediately, you can microwave them.

• Place the berries on a paper-lined microwavable tray.
• Microwave the berries on the defrost setting for 30 seconds. If they are not defrosted, repeat until the berries they are defrosted.
• Remove berries from the microwave immediately to stop any cooking.
• The berries should look lightly frosted and with their shapes somewhat intact.
• Note that microwaved frozen berries are more delicate than actual fresh berries.
• They will disintegrate in a fruit salad, so it is better to use them in smoothies.

Another way to extend the shelf life of raspberries is to can them. Canning raspberries are a perfect way to keep them fresh and preserve their sweetness. It also gives the berries a much more pleasant texture than freezing.

Before you begin, prepare all your ingredients and equipment. These are what you need:

All You Need:

• Canning jars and lids
• Canning pot or pressure canner
• Jar lifter
• Funnel
• Large pot for syrup (optional)
• Fresh, ripe raspberries
• Sugar (optional for syrup)
• Water (optional for syrup

Instructions: 

• Prepare the raspberries by washing them gently and removing stems or mushy berries.
• Sterilize jars and lids in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.
• Pack the jars with raspberries while hot, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Remove air pockets using a clean, non-metallic utensil like a chopstick.
• Add more raspberries if there is still space left.
• Wipe the jar rims to remove any residue.
• Secure the hot lids and tighten the bands.
• Process the jars using an appropriate canning method, like a boiling water bath.
• Let jars cool undisturbed for 24 hours. Ensure the lids are conclave.
• Remove the bands from the jar and store them in a cool, dark place.

The lifespan of raspberries depends on storage conditions and how ripe the berries were when purchased or picked. Sometimes, berries in containers might be over rips. Overripe berries do not last long, even if you store them properly. You want to avoid overripe berries, so you need to be careful when buying. 

Room Temperature

Berries perish and do not last long at room temperature. Room temperatures are usually warm, making them susceptible to dehydration because they have high water content. They have delicate skin that spoils in warm temperatures.

Additionally, the natural sugars in berries create a favorable environment for bacteria, accelerating the ripening process and mold growth. It is best to consume the berries within a day or two of purchasing them if they are at room temperature.

Fridge

Raspberries that are properly stored in the fridge can last up to a week. If you are not going to freeze your berries, it is better to wash them only when you are consuming them.

Avoid washing them as soon as you get back from the market, as the moisture can spoil the berries within two to three days.

Freezer

Raspberries last anywhere between 12 to 18 months in the freezer. Raspberries that are kept constantly frozen at 0°F will last even longer. 

The freezing temperature significantly slows microbial growth, the primary culprit of food spoilage. These organisms thrive when there is moisture, but when berries are frozen, their moisture turns into ice crystals. The ice crystals make it impossible for the organisms to grow. 

Freezing also pauses enzymatic activities that contribute to food breakdown, making them last longer.

Just because you have stored your berries properly does not mean they will not go bad. Therefore, before you consume them, always look for signs of spoilage.

Eating spoilt berries can cause symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. It can cause food poisoning and allergic reactions. No one wants that.

Mold

The most obvious sign of spoilage is mold. Mold usually looks like fuzzy, gray, or white growth. Sometimes, parts of the raspberry will be pale or white, but that is discoloration in the fruit. 

It is not mold, just a sign of unripe or something that occurred when the berries were growing.  If you see any raspberries with these growths, toss the berry in the trash. Do not cut off the mold, and keep the rest of the berry for consumption.

Even if there are no spots, the berry is probably already infected. Raspberries are susceptible to mold growth because of their high water content. Too much moisture from improper storage, washing before storing, or high humidity can create perfect conditions for mold spores to flourish.

Appearance

Fresh raspberries have a vibrant, deep red color with a sheen. The berries look plump, juicy, and inviting. 

Spoilt berries are gray, white, or green, with dark spots indicating mold growth. The skin is dull or dry and lacks the glossy shine of fresh raspberries. 

It also looks wrinkled or shrunken. When you touch the berries, it feels papery. The berries also feel lightweight because of reduced water content from dehydration and decay. 

If you have a discolored berry, it is best to discard the entire container, as mold can spread rapidly.

Smell

The funky smell of spoiled raspberries is another indicator that they should be tossed in the trash. 

The most common smell of spoilt berries is a vinegary odor. It is pungent, acidic, and quite unpleasant. Sometimes, the berries can also smell like alcohol because of the breakdown of sugars in the berries.

A musty or earthy odor is another sign of spoilage. Mold and bacteria cause this smell. If you notice any of these smells, discard the raspberries immediately to prevent accidentally consuming them and becoming ill.

Texture

The texture of spoiled raspberries differs significantly from that of fresh ones. Spoiled berries are mushy and soft and lose their shape even with a gentle touch. Extremely spoilt berries are slimy, which is unpleasant and nasty. 

Though less common, spoiled raspberries may also appear dry and shriveled, especially if they are dehydrated. A fresh raspberry should be plump and firm. When you gently press the raspberry, it collapses slightly but retains its shape. 

This indicates that the berry is ripe and juicy, but not overripe.