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Vacuum Sealing strawberries is a great way to preserve them. Strawberries are expensive fruit to buy, and it is easy for them to get moldy. You can slow down the process by vacuum sealing them in individual bags, or you can also bag a bunch of them together with one large bag.
Whenever you want to buy strawberries, it is highly recommended that you inspect them all. Look for ones with firm and bright green tops. Strawberries are a perishable item as they go bad in just 2-3 days depending on the temperature of your home. However, if you vacuum seals them and then put them in the freezer, they will last for several months.
Benefits of Vacuum Sealing Strawberries
Let start off with the reasons why I feel it’s important to vacuum seal your food. Food is not exposed to air which can degrade its quality, taste and eventually cause it to spoil faster. Vacuum sealing takes up less space in your refrigerator or pantry since you are not storing the bags. You will find that you use your stored food more often because it is fresh, “air-tight”, not taken up as much space, and is well preserved throughout the year!
How to Vacuum Seal Strawberries!
Things you need for vacuum Sealing:
You will need a shallow baking sheet or tray, some parchment paper (optional), a plastic bag, recipe, strawberries, wax paper, a straw, a sealer, and a container for the vacuumed berries.
Step 1:
Wash all your strawberries! I like to place them on a tray lined with parchment paper to dry as we prepare the bag for sealing. This also helps to avoid any mold that can form while they are drying after washing.
Step 2:
Next, you can remove the stems and I like to cut a small X into the very top of each berry so it is easier for them to vent while in the bag, if you let some air through there is less chance that they will pop.
Step 3:
You can use any kind of berry, larger strawberries may need a bit more time vacuum sealing than smaller ones. You want your strawberries to fit nicely in a gallon-sized bag in order to make it easier to seal. For the average size of a strawberry, you should set your vacuum between 10 and 12, if the strawberries are a bit larger or smaller you should adjust accordingly. I like to place one layer of berries at a time on a tray that will fit in my refrigerator. Make sure they are not touching each other so they can vent on all sides.
Step 4:
When you are ready to vacuum seal your berries, place the tray near the machine and use a straw to make it easier for air to escape from the bag. This step prevents any of your strawberries from popping too much when removing the air from them! Vacuum until most of the air is out and stop just before the last bits of your berries are close to popping out. It will take less time for them to seal if you stop earlier than letting all the air out and then having to re-vacuum because they have popped too much!
Step 5:
Remove the tray from the machine and place the tray or pan with your vacuumed berries in the refrigerator right away.
Step 6:
Let them cool for at least 30 minutes before removing the bag.
Step 7:
After you remove the bag from your strawberries, you can fold it over and clip it closed. The next day they should be ready to eat! You should keep berries sealed air-tight this way in your refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Does Strawberries taste the same after Vacuum Sealing?
This all depends on the reason as to why you want to vacuum seal strawberries and whether or not they are fresh enough to be stored in the freezer. If you have been noticing that your strawberries have a lot of mold on them, then we would not recommend vacuum sealing them. However, if they are still looking pretty good, then go ahead and give it a try.
Strawberries have high amounts of water in them which is why their shelf life is not that long even when they are placed in the fridge. Vacuum sealing strawberries will help extend their life and get rid of unnecessary moisture, but you should be aware that this is only a temporary solution. Strawberries must be stored in a container with an airtight seal for them to last longer than just one week.
If you have been noticing that your strawberries are starting to grow mold, then it is likely time for you to either consume them or use them in a recipe as they will not last very much longer and the best thing you can do is be proactive.
What Can You Use Strawberries For After Vacuum Sealing Them?
This will depend on what kind of dish you are planning on using them for. If you end up vacuum-sealing strawberries to use in a strawberry smoothie, then all you will have to do is store them in the fridge until they are ready to be used and simply pour them in with your ingredients.
If your plan was to make some kind of cake or pie out of it, then you will also need them to be chilled by the time you are ready to incorporate them. This is the problem with vacuum-sealing strawberries as they will go bad if they are not used very quickly and that means you will have to eat your cake or pie in just a couple of days.
Preserving strawberries in their original form while preventing them from molding is the biggest advantage that you can get from vacuum-sealing strawberries.
It is important to know that although this method will help them stay fresh for longer, they will still not last all too long and you should be prepared to either eat your cake or pie in just a couple of days or use it as an ingredient for any other recipe you want to make.