Strawberries

How to select

Choose shiny, firm strawberries with a bright red color.  Caps should be fresh, green and intact.  Avoid shriveled, mushy or leaky berries.

How to prepare

• Rinse strawberries in a colander under running water. 
• Pat dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. 
• Cut the stems off each strawberry. Further slicing is dependent on the recipe you're following.

How to store

Do not wash strawberries until ready to eat. Store in refrigerator for 1-3 days.

Peak season

Spring and summer

Ways to use

• Add sliced berries to spinach salad and toss with a low-fat balsamic vinaigrette.
• Top waffles or pancakes with sliced strawberries and bananas for a fresh alternative to syrup.
• Toss in with other fruit and blend for a creamy smoothie.
• Skip the J in a classic PB and J sandwich and use fresh sliced strawberries in its place!

Fun facts

• On average, there are 200 tiny seeds on every strawberry.
• There are more than 600 varieties of strawberries.
• It is the only fruit with the seeds on the outside.
• Each US resident eats 3.4 lbs of fresh strawberries a year.
• All the strawberries produced in California laid berry to berry would go around the world 15 times.

Nutrition info and facts

Strawberries are packed full of potassium. Strawberries are a source of magnesium, which contributes to bone and teeth strength. Strawberries and naturally fat- and cholesterol-free.

1 cup of strawberries = 45 calories, 1 g protein, 13 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 7 g sugar

Learn more

Growing strawberries in the home garden (UMN Extension)