How to select the best strawberries

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Since strawberries do not ripen after they have been picked, look for ones that are fully ripe. Fully ripe Strawberries have a beautiful aroma, are moderately soft and plump with a shiny, deep red color and well attached, bright green caps. Medium-size strawberries are often more flavorful than those that are excessively large. Particularly for strawberries, since they are one of the foods on which pesticides residues are frequently found, it is best to select organically grown varieties whenever possible.

Avoid strawberries that are dull in color or have green or yellow patches since they are likely to be sour and of inferior quality. Avoid overripe strawberries that are very soft, mushy or moldy. If you are buying strawberries prepackaged in a container, make sure that they are not packed too tightly, and that there are no signs of stains or moisture present. These are indications that the berries may be crushed, damaged or spoiled. Overripe Strawberries should not be eaten.

It is best to purchase strawberries no more than one or two days prior to use as they are highly perishable and do not store well. They will not ripen once you bring them home but will just mold and rot, so they need to be eaten as soon as possible.