Strawberries

 

California Giant’s business has been built on strawberries. Known for our quality and taste, when you buy our strawberries you know you are getting the very best. Delicious and healthy, California Giant strawberries are a sweet treat for the whole family.

 

Here are some tips for shopping and storing strawberries:

Purchasing
When looking for strawberries at your local grocery store, be sure to look for fruit that is plump with natural sheen and bright red coloring. Berries should have full red color and fresh looking green caps. Remember, strawberries do not ripen after harvest so if there are white shoulders on the berries or if the entire berry is light in color – it will not continue to ripen after purchase.

Storing
Store your strawberries in a large covered container with a dry paper towel at the bottom in the refrigerator. Separate the berries by layering them with paper towels to maximize freshness. Do not wash your strawberries until just before use. Wash your strawberries under a spray of cool water with green caps still attached to keep flavor inside. For best flavor, serve strawberries at room temperature.

Preparing
Remove the strawberries from the refrigerator one hour before consumption. This will allow the strawberries to warm up to room temperature so their naturally sweet flavor can be enjoyed. Rinse the strawberries with caps still attached under a gentle spray of cool water and use a paper towel to pat them dry. Use a sharp paring knife to remove the caps or give them a twist.

Freezing
You can either freeze berries whole and plain or sweetened for recipe usage later. Wash berries with the caps on, then remove the caps, and dry. Whole berries can be stored in freezer bags for use later in jams, smoothies, and home made ice cream. If you would like to freeze sweetened berries for use in sauces & toppings, you will need to mix equal amounts of sugar and water in a saucepan. Stir the mix over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Cool the mixture completely. Place the washed strawberries into a freezer bag and pour enough of the mix to completely cover the strawberries. Seal and freeze the bags in a single layer.

Did You Know?
Strawberries have more Vitamin C per serving than an orange and are high in Folic Acid, great for moms or women that are pregnant. Strawberries are also high in antioxidants, which are thought to be responsible for lowering the risk of some cancers and improving urinary tract health and memory function.

Check out our nutritional and health section for more information. Click here for recipes.