Raspberries are a delicate fruit. Due to being so fragile, they can quickly soak up any liquid surrounding them. This means they are at a high risk of becoming spoiled easily. When the raspberries are spoiled, they are prone to mold outbreaks.
For this reason, you will want to handle them very carefully. This means not washing the raspberries until you want to eat them. You do not need to prewash them before putting them in the refrigerator.
If you want to know how to wash raspberries in order to keep them in good condition for longer, then read on to find out more.
Should You Wash Raspberries?
It is absolutely fine to wash raspberries. Because they are particularly delicate, it is when and how you wash the raspberries that matter. Applying too much pressure to the fragile skin can cause them to spoil prematurely.
If the raspberries are unwashed, whether that is from the local grocery store or farmer’s market, then you will want to wash them. However, the best time to do it is just before you eat them.
This way, if they do become bruised or spoiled, you can eat them right away. If you leave them spoiled – even in the cold air of the refrigerator – they are likely to develop mold and go rotten quickly.
How Should You Not Wash Raspberries?
One of the ways many of us wash fruit is by placing it under running water in the kitchen. While most fruit and veggies are fine with this, raspberries need a little more care. The pressure from the running water may actually cause more damage than good.
The majority of the time, raspberries are packaged in a way where they sit on top of each other. Pressure from the water can actually squish them together. Not only are the raspberries spoiled, but they will not look appetizing either.
So under the faucet is not the answer when it comes to washing raspberries, especially if you need to use them as the presentation for your dish.
What Is The Best Way To Wash Raspberries?
One of the things you should avoid is washing the raspberries before you place them in the refrigerator. Raspberries tend to have a short shelf life anyway, so spoiling them so early on will make them go rotten even quicker.
The best way to wash raspberries is by filling a bowl with cold tap water. Put all of the raspberries into a colander and gently submerge them into the bowl of water. Remove the colander of raspberries and place each raspberry on top of a paper towel to dry.
You can put them upside if you wish, as this will stop any water from forming inside the raspberry. If they are put back in the refrigerator wet and in their original packaging, then they will stay soggy and mold will form quickly.
You can also place a paper towel in an airtight container, put the raspberries inside (but not on top of each other), and let them dry this way. If you are not planning to eat them yet, place them straight into the refrigerator as they are drying.
Not the most ideal, but it is better than leaving them out at room temperature. Doing so will cause them to go bad sooner rather than later.
Can You Wash Raspberries Before Freezing?
Because raspberries are a fruit that can be put in the freezer (they can last for up to a year), you may be wondering if you should wash them first. However, this is not something that needs to be done.
Washing the raspberries before you freeze them only adds excess moisture to the raspberry. You need them to be dry when you put them into the cold environment, otherwise, they will be soggy and taste different when you thaw them.
So for this reason, it is not ideal to wash raspberries before putting them in the freezer. Instead, wash them when you thaw them. This way you can eat them right away.
Can You Eat Raspberries That Have Not Been Washed?
Whether you have chosen organic or regular raspberries, you should always make sure the raspberries are clean first before eating them. Despite organic raspberries being grown without the use of pesticides, they may still harbor dirt, grime, and small bugs.
It is the same with non-organic raspberries too. Before you eat any fresh fruit or veggies, you should always wash them first.
You may even see some of the grime that has been left behind within the packaging. Unless the packaging says they have been washed already, always clean the fruit!
Can You Use Vinegar To Clean Raspberries?
If the raspberries are particularly dirty, or you would like them to have a deeper clean, then you can always use vinegar. The vinegar will help to kill off any remaining germs and can be helpful if the raspberries have bugs or worms.
To wash the raspberries this way, fill a bowl with three parts water and one part white vinegar. Place the raspberries into a colander and submerge them into the mixture.
Avoid soaking all of the raspberries, however, as they are very delicate and might not be able to withstand all of the extra liquid. Remove the colander and place the raspberries onto a paper towel to absorb all of the liquid.
You can also gently dry them by patting them with a paper towel. Do make sure you don’t squish them though, as it is easily done!
Final Thoughts
Due to raspberries being very fragile, you might be wondering how to wash them and when the best time is to do it. Fortunately, it is not difficult to wash raspberries – you just have to be extra careful.
You will also need to remember that it is best to wash raspberries just before you plan to eat them. Washing them before you refrigerate them is really not necessary. So, only wash the raspberries you plan to eat, there and then.
Hello, my name is Valentina and I am the founder or ‘grower’ as I like to call myself of BonitaFruitTrees.com.
Cultivating my own fruit trees is definitely my passion, and has been for such a long time.
That’s what made me want to make this website. I wanted to create a place where I could share my experiences with others, teach more people how to grow fruit trees, and just help them have a little fun with it.
