# Prolonging the Life of Berries **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791 "2009-08-26T17:32:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791/1 "2009-08-26T17:32:47Z")
Just saw this and thought some others would like to know - To keep strawberries, blueberries, etc from getting moldy too fast, they can be dunked in hot water for several minutes. [Prolonging the Life of Berries](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/dining/26curi.html?_r=1&hpw) ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791/2 "2009-08-26T17:53:49Z")
That’s really surprising. I’d expect a loss of texture but apparently I’d be wrong. I buy lots of berries and mold is a huge problem. Thanks for the post ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791/3 "2009-08-26T20:30:42Z")
I prefer electricity. But they call me mad – ha ha haha haha! ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Say\_Dice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee59a6/32.png) [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791/4 "2009-08-27T16:02:00Z")
I buy too many berries just because they keep selling them “buy one quart, get one free”. And then I have to pig out. Strawberries I can cut and sprinkle with sugar and they keep in the fridge, but get soft. Other berries and cherries I just have to eat until I’m sick of them until the next big sale. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791/5 "2009-08-27T21:15:05Z")
Thanks for this!! If there’s one thing I hate, it’s buying strawberries and I get to eat maybe two or three, then they’re all moldy! Drives me nuts. I’m going to have to try this next time I get strawberries… ---
**Author:** ![Emmy2635](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/919ad9/32.png) [@Emmy2635](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emmy2635)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791/6 "2009-08-29T00:46:07Z")
I always take berries that are about to go bad and freeze them in one layer on a sheet pan. When frozen, put them into a plasic bag and keep them for smoothies! This even works for things like bananas, cherries, peaches, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prolonging-the-life-of-berries/507791/7 "2009-08-29T13:49:45Z")
> [@Emmy2635](#): > > I always take berries that are about to go bad and freeze them in one layer on a sheet pan. When frozen, put them into a plasic bag and keep them for smoothies! This even works for things like bananas, cherries, peaches, etc. I saw Alton Brown do that once… never really get around to doing it myself. I always end up forgetting that I need to do it and by then they’re bad.