produce here in south texas is extremely affordable, so i've been trying to include more seasonal fruits and veggies in our diet. some of our summer favorites- strawberries, cherries, raspberries and blueberries in particular seem to spoil all too quickly. to extend their shelf life, i found a little trick on pinterest that has been super duper helpful, and that is a new part of my sunday shopping ritual:

when i first bring home the berries, i sift through to find any that are spoiled/smooshed/gross and discard them. spoilage among these types of fruit seems to spread at lightning speed once it starts.

then, i take the remaining berries and soak them for 8-10 minutes in a solution that is 1:10 parts white distilled vinegar to water- to kill off any mold spores on the fruit.

once the berries are done soaking, i rinse well with water and very gently pat dry. lay them out in a single layer on a paper towel and let your berries dry completely before placing them in a container for storage. (i like ceramic berry baskets and colanders!) #thatsall