As of: May 6, 2024 10:34 a.m
Bright red and fragrant: strawberries are healthy, delicious and are now in season again. If you want to enjoy their full aroma, you should buy regional produce or pick the fruits yourself. Tips and recipes.
In sweet or savory dishes, as jam or simply plain – strawberries are one of the Germans’ favorite fruits. Strawberries have been popular for a long time: our ancestors already knew wild strawberries. The first finds date back to the Stone Age. In ancient times, Roman poets such as Ovid, Virgil and Pliny praised the qualities of the small, aromatic fruits. They called them “frega” or “fregum”, derived from the Latin “fragare” (to smell).
Recognize ripeness, freshness and quality when purchasing
Since strawberries do not ripen, consumers should make sure when buying that all berries are evenly red, shiny and plump. Overripe fruits or strawberries with bruises spoil quickly. Other signs of freshness include a short, green stem and consistently green sepals without white tips. Strawberries can only fully develop their aroma when they are ripe on the plant.
Imported strawberries are often not fully ripe and are often contaminated with pesticides.
This is rarely the case with imported goods from southern Europe or Morocco, which are often offered before the start of the domestic season. They are usually matured under foil in huge monocultures and can be contaminated with pesticides. The high water consumption when growing in dry regions such as Andalusia and the long transport are also problematic. So it’s worth waiting until the season begins in Germany in May and choosing regional fruits.
Which varieties are particularly sweet and aromatic?
Although there are many different types of strawberries, they are hardly differentiated in the trade because labeling is not required. If you buy directly from the producer, you can ask. Popular and aromatic varieties include the early variety “Elvira” and the very sweet varieties “Senga Sengana” and “Honeyone”.
Pick yourself: Early morning is the ideal harvest time
If you pick strawberries yourself, you are guaranteed to get fresh fruit.
If you want to be sure that the strawberries are completely fresh, you can either buy them directly from the producer at weekly markets or pick them yourself in a nearby field. If possible, choose an area that is not directly on a busy street. This means the pollution is lower. It is best to use flat strawberry baskets when picking. Buckets or other deep containers are less suitable as the fruit will be compressed in them.
The best time to harvest your own is early in the morning, when the berries are most aromatic. It should also be dry, because strawberries picked wet have less flavor and have a shorter shelf life. Pull the fruit from the plant along with the green sepals and a piece of stem to avoid sap leakage. Only harvest ripe fruits; unripe ones can be recognized by the white-yellow edge.
Preparing strawberries: Wash them before eating
Strawberries should only be washed shortly before eating
Strawberries are extremely delicate and perishable. Breathable packaging, such as cardboard or chipboard, is suitable for transport. Under no circumstances should the berries be crushed. To preserve the aroma, wash the fruit briefly and remove the stems and leaves immediately before consumption. Water also deprives the fine fruits of their aroma, so do not leave them in water for long and do not clean them under a strong jet of water.
Proper storage in the refrigerator and freezing
If left unwashed, strawberries will last for one to two days in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator – preferably covered on a plate or in a bowl. Frozen whole fruits tend to become mushy after thawing. An alternative is to puree them before freezing them. Strawberries are also suitable for making jam or compote. The combination with rhubarb or red currants is very tasty.
Are freeze-dried strawberries recommended?
An alternative to strawberries from the freezer are freeze-dried fruits. During this process, the moisture is removed from the fruit, while the color and aroma are retained. The complex process has its price: freeze-dried strawberries are very expensive, the production is energy-intensive and the fruits often come from abroad. According to consumer advice centers, they also contain a lot of sugar, so they are not recommended.
Healthy strawberries: Lots of vitamin C and few calories
In addition to their unique taste, strawberries have other benefits. They contain more vitamin C per 100 grams than lemons, as well as vitamins B1 and B2 and the minerals calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium. The content of folic acid, a vitamin that is important for cell formation, is remarkably high. Strawberries also lower blood pressure and stimulate kidney activity.
Despite the abundance of healthy ingredients, strawberries are also low in calories. A large portion contains no more calories than a small praline.
Further information
Protected under foil, the first strawberries of the season have already ripened. The industry expects a good yield. more
If you want to harvest delicious strawberries every year, you should change the location and plants regularly. more
A strawberry pyramid is a space-saving alternative for a large bed. Old wood can be used for construction. more
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Market | May 6, 2024 | 8:15 p.m