How to Choose and Store Fresh Blueberries!

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We have fresh blueberries coming out or our ears! (Not really, but you get the picture) July is peak blueberry season in PA and we are overloaded with blueberries. We have 2 blueberry bushes of our own and a good friend of ours has 80 bushes, so we do a lot of picking, storing and eating blueberries!

Blueberries are generally eaten raw. Add blueberries to your favorite salad, yogurt or smoothie recipe. Blueberries are perfect additions to muffins, pancakes, pies, cakes and breads. They go great with vanilla ice cream, too!

Here are a few tips to make sure you get the best of the blueberry crop.

• Pick blueberries in the early hours of the day or later in the evening to avoid the blazing heat.
• Blueberries should be a deep rich purple color (almost black) when harvested. 
• Blueberries should be firm and plump.
• Look for blueberries that are generally the same size and color when you pick them.
• Try to avoid blueberries with damaged skin or leakage.
• Store your blueberries unwashed and covered in the refrigerator and they should last 6 to 7 days.

I personally store most of my fruit in the the Tupperware FridgeSmart Containers. All of our raw fruits and vegetables stay fresh and last longer than normal in them. Each container has a lock system and the chart on the side of the container tells you the best way to store each kind of fruit or vegetable. You wouldn’t believe how much longer your fruits and veggies will keep in the refrigerator with the FridgeSmart Containers. I wasn’t even sure if Tupperware still handled this product, but I did see a few on Amazon. I have had my containers for many years and use them habitually. 

Since we harvest a large number of blueberries in a short time frame, most of our blueberries end up flash-frozen in the freezer. We rinse the berries and spread them on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer until frozen. Transfer to a container or freezer bag to store. Eat them as a snack or add to your favorite recipe. Most of ours end up in smoothies. It’s too darn hot to bake! This works great with most raw fruits. Grapes are especially yummy frozen. Frozen grapes are a refreshing treat on a hot day. 

What kind of blueberry recipes do you and your family enjoy?  

Be sure to check out this recipe for the best blueberry bread it’s fabulous!

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