Summer Berries (Daily Dish)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2005
Summer Berries (Daily Dish)
2
Mon, 07-23-2007 - 7:37am

Have A Berry Good Summer


With summer officially in full swing, it's time to enjoy that sweetest fruit of all — the berry. Whether you love strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries, the months from May to September offer an abundant harvest of berry goodness. And best of all, fiber-rich berries — Phase 2 fruits — are a delicious source of disease-fighting antioxidants. Here are a few tips on how to buy them, store them, and put them to good use.


Buying: At the grocery store or farmer's market, choose dry, plump, and brightly colored berries with no obvious rotten spots. Avoid containers with juice stains — this is a sign that the berries have either been battered or are overripe. Also be on the lookout for moldy spots — mold travels like wildfire through berries, so avoid containers with signs of mold.

Storing: After you've brought home your berries, store them unwashed in the refrigerator in a covered container. Fresh berries don't last long and are best used within two days of purchase. Berries can also be stored in the freezer for up to four months. To freeze, spread the berries out on a cookie tray and freeze before consolidating into a smaller container.

Eating: When you're ready to use your berries, you can enjoy them as is, with a dollop of South Beach Diet®-approved whipped topping, mixed in nonfat or low-fat plain or artificially sweetened yogurt, with high-fiber, whole-grain cereal, and even in salads. Need more ideas?

Whatever you choose to do, make sure to wash your berries before eating them, since they can often harbor bacteria.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-05-2006
Mon, 07-23-2007 - 4:27pm

Blueberries in our WW pancakes are the best! Just like the old traditional treat my Dad used to make!

We also LOVE Bing Cherries, which are in season. So much so that I am thinking about planting a cherry tree in our backyard :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2003
Wed, 06-04-2008 - 6:18pm

*BUMP*


I just bought some berries and wasn't sure how to store them since blackberries get moldy so quickly. We'll see if I have better luck without washing them before putting them in the fridge.

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