Strawberries are in season from June through August in most regions. Here in the mid-Atlantic, we’ve been seeing them in farmers markets for about a month now. If you live in a climate like Southern California’s, you may see them much more often.
To select the best berries, look for bright red berries with the green caps still on. Avoid any container with moldy berries as the spores can spread and ruin an entire container, even if the berries aren’t actually physically touching the moldy spots. Use your strawberries as soon as possible, or store them in the refrigerator covered loosely with plastic wrap, as warm temperatures can change the color of fresh strawberries. You can store them for up to three days. Wash your strawberries only when you are ready to use them. To wash, rinse the berries in a colander under cold running water. Remove the green stem and caps with a paring knife before chopping, slicing or processing.
Strawberries are sweet and delicious, but they are also good for you! They have more vitamin C per ounce than citrus fruits, and a cup of strawberries is only 55 calories*. Kids and adults love the fruit; 94% of households in the United States consume strawberries*. Here are some of our favorite ways to use strawberries this summer. Enjoy!
*Source: University of Illinois Extension: Strawberries & More
I had the old Hamilton Beach drink mixer and wore it out. It was great for making my gchildren and ggchildren milkshakes and rootbeer floats(mix a little rootbeer and scoop of ice cream in mixer) then put scoops of icream and fill with rootbeer and top with whipped cream. They all ask for it. But now my HB mixer is worn out.