I went picking strawberries today and just washed them and laid them flat on layers of paper towels. I am afraid that if I leave them out all night to dry I will wake up to fruit flies. Is there a better way of doing this? Also I read to use the tip of a floating blade peeler to take the hulls out. What the heck is that and is there another tool I could use? Also should I let the strawberries dry completely before storing them in a container? I hope someone can help me before I go off to bed.
I only washed the ones I am going to freeze right away. Directions on the internet told me to remove the hulls before freezing. I assumed you would anyways since the frozen ones from the store are removed.
I don't think you typically want to wash them until you are ready to eat them.
Carefully blot it dry.
Then put in fridge.
In a container with air holes.
Moisture will make them moldy and rot faster.
I usually was them and let them sit for about 45 minutes then place them in a Ziplock with a paper towel..
I hull mine after washing (with a little knife - I don't know what a floating blade peeler is!), and then dry them thoroughly (pat them w/ a paper towel). Then into a bag in the fridge. I think Laurie's idea of adding a paper towel to that bag is a great idea.
maybe this will help
A floating blade peeler is a regular old vegetable peeler - you know the kind that is curved, with a part of the blade that is separated a bit from the rest of the knife, that you use for potatoes or apples? They just mean to use the tip of that. Any sharp knife will do the job.
If you're going to freeze them, pat them dry and lay them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet or shallow pan, freeze them like that, then put the frozen berries into a freezer bag.
I usually don't wash them till I'm gonna eat them..
I'd pat them down and line a colander with a paper towel and put them in the fridge and hope for the best. I've never removed strawberry hulls, why would you? No one peels strawberries unless they have a bad case of diverticulitis.
