How to Ripen Strawberries – It’s REALLY Easy!
Do you hate buy strawberries only to find that a lot of them are not ripe? Keep reading to find out How to Ripen Strawberries!
Can you ripen strawberries after you buy them at the store? Yes, you sure can.
How to Ripen Strawberries – The Easy Way
I love strawberries! What I don't like is finding them unripe at the store. For the longest time I thought there was no way to get them to ripen after bringing them home as I noticed they got moldy real quick in the containers if not eaten. I recently found an easy peasy way to get them to turn red and wanted to pass it on to you guys.
Quick & Easy Steps to Juicy Red Strawberries:
- The first thing to do is get them out of those containers and spread them out on a dish or cookie sheet depending on how many you have to ripen. Don't wash them or cut off the tops.
- Place them so they aren't touching and then place them in a place they won't be disturbed. I just keep them on the kitchen counter.
- Be patient, it takes a couple of days for them to ripen.
- Keep an eye on them – they can go from ripe to brown or moldy quick!
- Once they're ripe you can freeze them or wash and enjoy!
- You can also cut them up, sprinkle some sugar on them and store them in a bowl. I only do this if I am going to use them in a recipe right away where sugar is needed or making a simple syrup.
I bought 5 packs at Aldi today for 99¢ – a great price! After my berries are ripe, I'll wash them, cut off the tops and then freeze them. That way I'll have strawberries whenever I want them.
More Strawberry Tips
To make strawberries ripe and soft, the simplest method is to was them with 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 5 cups of water. Then dry them and seal them in a paper bag using a rubber band. The strawberries' ethylene gas will aid in breaking down the sugars, which will make the fruit softer and ready for consumption. Keeping them in the sealed bag for up to three days can help speed up the ripening process. To expedite the process of strawberries ripening, one can add an apple or a banana in the same bag. These fruits emit an increased amount of ethylene gas that quickens the process.
Keeping strawberries in a glass jar is a great way to make them last longer. According to several experts, this method proves to be the clear winner. By transferring unwashed strawberries into an airtight glass container and making sure it is sealed tight, one can keep these berries fresh for up to three weeks in the refrigerator. And the good news is, it's incredibly easy to do. Simply put unwashed, uncut strawberries in a glass jar, seal it tight and refrigerate it. The strawberries should stay fresh for at least a week. If someone is looking for a foolproof way to store fresh strawberries, the glass jar method is the way to go.
Recipes to Use Your Strawberries In:
- Strawberry Crumble Bars with Bananas
- Instant Pot Strawberry Jelly
- Strawberry lemon Bundt Cake
- Homemade Strawberry Sauce
- Strawberry Bread
- 3 Ingredient Yogurt cake
Can you ripen previously frozen?
Hi Harold, when strawberries thaw after being frozen they are very soft and a little mushy – they won’t ripen any further. Hope this helps.
Oooo, thank you for this!
You’re quite welcome! Let us know how it turns out if you try it 🙂
strawberries do not ripen after being picked. i am totally confused now. all they do after getting picked is they start to decompose i thought?
Hi Debra, I personally have used this method many times and it works. I will say it probably wouldn’t work on very unripe strawberries that have a lot of green – it would take too long. Just keep an eye on them and soon as they ripen, use them that day or freeze them. Hope this helps
Never thought of this method, Will definitely try. Thanks.
You are so welcome!
I am going to print this out for my husband. He loves them with his breakfast. I am however allergic to them so — this is all for him. I appreciate the information.
Ohh I think someone is going to score big points with the hubs!
This is so helpful thank you.
You are so welcome!
I love strawberries as a fresh summer treat!
Totally agree!
I am so saving this one thanks for the great post.
You are so welcome!
Thank you sharing this
You are so welcome!
I never would have guessed this was possible
Yes, it’s easier than you think!
This is a fabulous tip. We love berries, so it’s good to know there’s a way to ripen strawberries!
Strawberries are one of my faves!
Thanks for this information! I never know what to do with unripened strawberries.
You are so welcome!
What great strawberry recipes, I love strawberries and never had it in a pie, can’t wait to try it.
It’s so good!
Thank for this tip – i often buy a good amount of pints when they are just coming out!
Yes I love buying them on sale!
Unfortunately I don’t take them out of the fridge unless I am eating them. I dislike gnats so much and they would be all over my strawberries if I left them out.
Those darn gnats always get in the way.
love strawberries and have been doing this for years. thanks.
They are just so darn good!
Thank you for sharing! I wished I would have known this before my husband died! He loved those strawberry cup shortcakes. The cake looked like a cake bowl. I could have used more ripened sweet strawberries I could only use the strawberries that I had that weren’t totally ripe. There is only so much whipped cream that I could use!
Maybe you can make this for a special day in his memory 🙂
♥️♥️♥️
love this site
Awww , Thank you so much for your support!
I didn’t know this. It’s always nice to learn something new. Thanks!
You are so welcome!
Love strawberries, yummy
One of my faves!
Thanks for sharing. This is good to know.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for the tips. I’ve never frozen strawberries.
You are so welcome!
First I can’t believe you found strawberries for 99 cents. Wow I would have bought that many too. Great tip on how to ripen.
Yes sometimes stores will buy to many and need to sell them before they go bad!
We have a food dehydrator, comes in handy when harvest season comes around- haven’t tried it on strawberries yet.
Ohhh I bet that really is handy!
Great tip! Thanks for sharing.
You are so welcome!
I love strawberry it’s my favorite fruit. Thanks for the sharing. Best regards
You are so welcome!
Surely needed this last week. One of the most unripe strawberries I have ever bought. This is much a problem. Thank God
Thank you!
As much as our family loves strawberries, this post was really helpful. Thanks!
You are so welcome!
Great tips, we usually eat the strawberries so fast we don’t have left to freeze.
I hear you!! lol
I have always been baffled by this. Thanks for the good info!
You are so welcome!
Very helpful!
Awesome, so glad we could be of help
This is great to know but ripe or not they disappear in my house.
I hear you on that lol
I learned some new tips, thanks for sharing this with us!
You are so welcome!