How to Prepare and Use Strawberries

1. 
   1
   Select bright, fresh looking berries. Avoid shriveled, dried up or moldy berries. Avoid soggy strawberries too as this means they are past their prime. A good strawberry should be firm and shiny. (Choose organic, if available, as strawberries are listed on the "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits and veggies most pesticide-laden.)
   • Some cooks believe smaller strawberries have more flavor due to a higher concentration of sugars.^[1][2]
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2. 
   2
   Rinse strawberries under running water but do not soak them. Rub the berries gently under running water to make sure each berry is clean and free of as much soil as possible. Most strawberries sold at the grocery store are fairly clean so a good rinsing should do the trick.
3. 
   3
   Let drain in a colander or place on paper towels.
4. 
   4
   Hull the berries by removing the green cap and stem with a paring knife or a strawberry huller.
5. 
   5
   Slice the strawberries. Sweeten with a sprinkling of superfine sugar if desired, and use within two hours of preparation. Keep the strawberries refrigerated until ready to serve.
6. 
   6
   Store strawberries in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 7 days after purchase. Do not wash and prepare the strawberries until ready to use.

If you want to store strawberries for longer, freezing is an ideal option. This section explains how to freeze them properly.

1. 
   1
   Rinse, drain and hull strawberries as directed.
2. 
   2
   Line a rimmed baking pan with wax or parchment paper.
3. 
   3
   Place prepared strawberries on baking pan leaving plenty of room between berries.
4. 
   4
   Freeze strawberries until frozen solid.
5. 
   5
   Remove frozen strawberries from baking sheet and place in freezer-safe storage bags.
6. 
   6
   Freeze. Use as desired.
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