Does The Viral Ice Water Hack Really Save Mushy Strawberries?
Sweet and delicious strawberries not only taste good, but they're also good for you. Packed with vitamin C, manganese, potassium, vitamin B9, and rich in antioxidants, strawberries are always a healthy option and at just 32 calories per 3.5 ounces, they can help keep the waistline trim while satiating your appetite for something sweet (via Healthline).
Unfortunately, strawberries also tend to spoil rather quickly. Raise your hand if you've grabbed strawberries out of the refrigerator only to find they look spotty, a little mushy, and not as beautiful and firm as they did when you put them in the grocery cart at the store.
Luckily, Facebook user Brittany King decided to share her hack to make those sad-looking strawberries perk up. King gave a hat tip to her friend for sharing the hack with her before she went on to explain how to resuscitate your lifeless strawberries. Simply soak the blemished strawberry in a bowl of ice water for 20 minutes and the fruit will firm up and turn back to its bright red hue (via Facebook).
But does this strawberry trick really work?
Testing this mushy strawberry trick
Better Homes & Gardens decided to put King's trick to the test to see if it really worked. The magazine asked their Test Kitchen to try the strawberry revival trick. During their trial, BHG found that the strawberries were definitely brighter in color than before they had their ice bath; however, the trick did not firm them up. They were still soft.
The testers concluded that while the trick didn't improve the texture, it did improve the appearance of the less than vibrant berries and encouraged readers to go ahead and try it. But BHG also cautioned not to waste your time trying this on moldy strawberries, as they are past the point of no return.
And while the testers didn't try it on blueberries or raspberries, they believe the trick should work on these berries too. Additionally, the magazine offered some great tips to keep your strawberries fresh. From not picking out crunchy strawberries because they won't ripen once they've been harvested, to avoiding washing or cutting off the caps before the fruit is ready to use, there are plenty of ways to ensure you get to enjoy the peak flavor and sweetness of these yummy red babies.