Here’s an interesting fact about strawberries. They do not ripen once picked. Before harvesting the berry, one should make sure they are fully mature and allow their growth by waiting for them to turn red or white with a little bit of green on top. Otherwise, you could end up with moldy berries.
Strawberries are good for eating but not if they’re not-so-ripe. What can you do with under-ripe berries, and how should you pick a ripened berry that aren’t yet ready to snack on? Let’s find out in this brief guide.
Why Do Strawberries Not Ripen After Picking?
Strawberries are the perfect summer fruit. They’re sweet and juicy, and they can be eaten fresh or used in various mouthwatering recipes. But when you buy them at a store, they never seem to ripen after picking! There is a very good reason for this: strawberries don’t produce ethylene gas as other fruits do.
This means that even though they may look ripe on the outside, their insides will still be green and unripe if you try to eat one before it naturally matures over time. So remember: Don’t eat those berries until they start turning red.
Is There Any Way To Ripen The Strawberries?
Although not a climacteric fruit, strawberries can still benefit from ethylene injection. This secondary ripening process takes place in some cases and results in an earlier harvest.
Strawberry plants release only small amounts of natural cis-1-(4′-hydroxyethyl) trans -2 cyclobutane (HEET) in the right conditions. When exposed to high doses of this compound over time, it causes them to become more susceptible to attack by fungal pathogens.
What Can You Do With Not So Ripe Strawberries?
So you picked up a bunch of strawberries at the grocery store, and now you’re not sure what to do with them, but they’re not quite ripe enough. What can you do? Well, luckily, there are plenty of recipes that use non-ripe strawberries! Here are some ideas:
Strawberry Syrup
Suppose you are lucky enough to have some ripe, sweet strawberries that aren’t quite at their best just yet but still delicious and worth eating for the next few days or so. In that case, strawberry syrup is an excellent option.
Toss those sour berries with sugar in a pan on your stovetop until they’re soft enough not to turn into a sauce when stirred often. After reducing by about half, there will be more than enough syrup for enjoying pancakes or making ice cream or any other dish requiring less liquid.
Popsicles
A cheesecake pop is a great way to enjoy your favorite summertime dessert on the go. You can use Greek yogurt and cream cheese with less flavorful strawberries, so you’ll still get all those lovely sweet flavors without sacrificing anything.
Roasting
You can’t have a summer salad without strawberries, but if they’re not sweet enough for your taste buds, then roast them. Roasting will help bring out all their natural sweetness. Toss in desserts or blend into margaritas to satisfy that fruit craving any time of year-round.
Drinks
Strawberries are a perfect complement to your favorite warm-weather sipper. You can try berry-infused iced tea or strawberry lime rickey, according to what flavors you want and your mood. However, if the strawberries are not so ripe, they will still taste good because of their natural sweetness.
Soup
If you want to have an exciting and refreshing summer dish, try this. Replace the tomatoes in your gazpacho with strawberries for a slightly sweeter twist that is sure not disappointing.
Smoothie
If you want to avoid dealing with a batch of strawberries that don’t taste well, whip up some smoothies. The nut butter or other sweet fruits will help mask their flavor and make them much easier for consumption in any dish. Try the Peanut Butter Jelly Banana Smoothie recipe as an option.
Pickles
To add some brightness to your salads, sandwiches, and tacos, try pickled strawberries. They are a great way of using leftover veggies or fruit in the fridge- they’re also delicious as an appetizer. The best thing is to eat them straight from the jar, but sometimes we need something more than just raw food.
How To Sweeten Not So Ripe Strawberries?
To make the most of your strawberries, first, rinse them off and let them dry. Then roughly chop up those dried berries before adding some sugar in a small bowl to naturally take care of any rough edges! The sweet juices from the fresh fruit mixture will help these little gems increase their sweetness without needing syrup. Wait until you see how much better they taste after being pickled for a while this way.
How To Pick Ripe strawberries?
Strawberries are a delicious and versatile fruit that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you prefer eating them fresh, cooking with them, or using the berries to make your preserves, it is essential to select the ripest strawberries possible when picking out your produce.
To find tasty strawberries look for ones with a deep red color and feel heavy for their size. However, don’t let these two factors alone determine if they’re ripe enough. Check for any white spots on the bottom of the berry and avoid any that appear too soft to touch.
Final Word
When it comes to strawberries, there are many ways you can enjoy them. Whether you want to eat them fresh or preserve their deliciousness for later in the year, we hope this guide has provided some helpful information that will lead to more fruitful strawberry picking expeditions.
See more: How To Clean And Wash Strawberries | How To Store Strawberries? | Where Do Strawberries Grow? | Do Grapes and Strawberries Go Together? | Do Kiwis and Strawberries Go Together?