What to look for when buying strawberries?

The criteria for strawberry quality are:

Color

The natural color of the berries is bright red. It indicates that the strawberries were grown without the use of nitrates. Very dark burgundy berries are either overripe or “tinted». Strawberries with a white tip – unripe. Dark spots on the surface are a sign of chemical spraying.

The tail of a berry

This is another indicator of the quality of strawberries. Fresh berries have green and fleshy leaves on it. Also, thanks to the tail, you can find out what strawberries taste like. If there is a distance between the leaves and the berry, the strawberries will be sweet. If the leaves are tight – a sign of sour berries. Strawberries without a tail spoil quickly.

Size

It is believed that huge fruits contain nitrates, but this is not always the case. The size of strawberries is affected by the variety of berries. Just there are strawberries of large and small varieties. But if the fruit in front of you is too perfect – elastic, smooth, with a glossy sheen – most likely they are processed.

The seeds indicate maturity

If the seeds are convex, then the strawberries are likely unripe. And if they are located in the “hole” and far from each other, the berry is ripe.

Scent

The aroma of ripe strawberries is strong and pleasant. Berries that smell faintly are unripe. And if there is no aroma at all, strawberries are most likely grown with nitrates.

Also pay attention to the packaging in which the strawberries were stored before purchase. If the fruit is processed, they will not secrete juice. Natural strawberries leave traces of juice on the box where they were stored. If the juice is not formed after washing the berries, you need to be careful, because most likely you have a processed product or genetically modified.

So when choosing strawberries, remember that:

• berries should be dry and without signs of rot;
• strawberry color should be bright and saturated;
• the leaves around the berry should be green;
• strawberries should be elastic and slightly shiny;
• the aroma of strawberries should be rich and “berry”;
• berries should produce juice; there should be no damage or dents on the strawberries.

Excess nitrates (over 100 mg / kg) can be suspected in strawberries if:

• they are very hard and dark red;
• when tasting there is a metallic taste in the mouth;
• they do not secrete juice, even if stored for 3-4 days or more;
• have no aroma.

However, even natural berries are not always safe. Therefore, before eating strawberries, they should be washed thoroughly, even if the berries look clean. This will eliminate their pathogens and reduce the amount of pesticides.

Uliana Suprun notes that the best scientifically sound advice is to fill the berries with water and soda (10 g per 1 liter), leave for 10 minutes and discard through a colander.

We hope you find the expert advice useful. Taste quality strawberries and stay healthy!