Recipes

How to Buy, Store, and Cook Strawberries, In Season in April

And we bet you are, too, because strawberries are sweetest when they're in season. Oh, which is right now! Here's how to buy, store, and cook them
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There are few desserts that wouldn't benefit from a sprinkling of strawberries, whether it's in the form of a delicious macerated sauce like on strawberry shortcakes, or jam spread on sweet rolls for brunch. We also eat them simply topped with cream (who wouldn't?) on a warm spring day. Check out the slideshow above for some strawberry-spiration, and read on to learn how to buy and store these beautifully red berries.

HOW TO BUY
Choose berries that have bright color and are shiny, firm, and not bruised or moldy. Bigger isn't better; often smaller strawberries have more flavor. If the berries are in a box, tilt it to check that the berries move freely; if they are stuck together, they are probably moldy. When possible, you should buy organic strawberries.

HOW TO STORE
Strawberries start to fade as soon as they're picked, so eat them within two or three days, and keep them in the refrigerator in one layer on a paper towel in an airtight container. Do not wash strawberries until ready to use.

Tomorrow: Spinach!

Danielle Walsh is the assistant web editor at Bon Appétit, and has also written for New York Magazine's Grub Street. She loves Korean food, tacos, and whiskey, and is trying really, really hard to like sardines. ... Read More
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