Food Shopping and Storing Food Shopping & Storing The Best Way to Store Blueberries So They Stay Fresh Follow these blueberry storing tips and make the most of blueberry season! By Phoebe Fry Updated on May 05, 2024 Medically reviewed by Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN Medically reviewed by Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN Kristy Del Coro is a registered dietitian nutritionist, RDN, and professionally trained chef with more than 10 years of experience in the field of culinary nutrition. Her strong background in nutrition science, sustainable food systems, and culinary education makes her exceptionally qualified to write about food that is good for us and the planet—while not sacrificing flavor. Learn More Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process In This Article View All In This Article Prepping Refrigerating Washing Freezing Shelf-Life FAQs Knowing how to store blueberries is essential for enjoying these tart, juicy, and gem-like delights. Whether you eat them alone, fold them into pancake batter, cook them down into jam, or add them to a breakfast smoothie, blueberries taste like pure summer. Unfortunately, fresh blueberries don't last very long after picking, so it's best to eat them quickly before they become mush. To buy yourself some time, read on for the best way to store blueberries to keep them fresh as long as possible, plus tips for freezing them. Brett Stevens/Getty Images Preparing Blueberries to Store When picking blueberries, buy the nicest-looking blueberries you can find. Look for blueberries that are plump and dry. Avoid berries that look fuzzy, soft, or wrinkly—signs that they're either rotten or almost rotten. (There's no point in storing spoiled blueberries.) When you get home, go through the blueberries and remove any bad ones that may have been hiding. Mold travels fast, so it's essential to get ahead of the problem. Pick out mushy blueberries, or ones that have started leaking liquid. When it comes to preserving fresh blueberries, moisture is the enemy. To avoid mold development, do not rinse blueberries before storing them in a refrigerator. If freezing, you can rinse and dry them. (In general, it's best to wash blueberries right before you're ready to eat them.) How to Store Blueberries in the Refrigerator When storing blueberries in a refrigerator, do so right after purchasing them (or picking your own at a patch). Remember not to rinse the blueberries. Choose a container with good airflow (like the pint the berries came in!), and line it with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Do not use an airtight container since you want to keep moisture out, not trap it. Add the berries to the container, then place the container on a shelf in the refrigerator. A shelf is better than the refrigerator's crisper drawer because there's better air circulation. Washing Blueberries Before Eating Before eating blueberries, it's important to wash them properly. From removing dirt, grime, and possible pesticides, you want to be sure your blueberries are safe for consumption. However, you don't want to risk mushy, smashed, or bruised blueberries from the process of cleaning them. Here, we share a few tips for washing blueberries, including using a salt or vinegar bath. First, wash blueberries right before eating them, not when storing them. Be sure your hands are clean before handling blueberries or any food. Then, follow these steps. Pour into a colander. While not a must, this is the easiest way to wash blueberries.Rinse with cold water. Let your faucet run with cool water at a gentle pressure. Then, place the blueberries under the water, shaking the colander to move them around, allowing the water to clean all sides of the blueberries. You can also manually move them with your hands to ensure full cleaning.Dry with a paper towel or cloth. Gently blot the blueberries dry using a soft cloth or paper towel. Don't squeeze—simply pat them dry. Some people prefer to clean their produce using a salt or vinegar bath. While not necessary, you can do so by adding 1 Tbsp of salt to every cup of water and then soaking the blueberries in the salt water. Alternatively, you can bathe the blueberries in a bowl of equal parts white vinegar and water. How to Freeze Blueberries Blueberries can be frozen, too. If you have fresh blueberries around and won't have time to eat them all, go ahead and freeze them for your future self. The texture will change, but frozen blueberries are perfect for tossing into smoothies or adding to baked goods. Follow these steps for freezing your blueberries. Wash and dry the blueberries. Spread blueberries out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours, until berries are firm. This prevents the blueberries from clumping up together. Transfer berries to a plastic bag or airtight freezer-safe container. Remove as much air as you can from the bag. (Label the bag or container with the date so you remember when they were frozen.) Freeze the blueberries until ready for use. Thawing Frozen Blueberries You don't need to thaw frozen blueberries for most applications (they'll thaw in the process!), but if a recipe calls for fresh blueberries, you might want to mimic freshness by thawing them first. All you have to do is place the frozen berries in a colander and run some cool water over them—they'll have thawed before you know it. How Long Do Blueberries Last? Depending on how you store blueberries will determine their shelf-life before they begin to spoil. Generally, you can expect blueberries to last longer if refrigerated or frozen. On the Counter Blueberries left out on a counter will only last about a day or two before they begin to go bad. If you plan on eating or using your blueberries right away, then it's OK to leave them out. Otherwise, refrigerate or freeze them. In the Refrigerator When properly stored in the refrigerator (following the tips above), you can expect blueberries to last for about a week, up to two. Keep an eye on them and look for signs of rotting: mushiness, fuzzy skin, or wrinkled texture. In the Freezer Once frozen, blueberries stay good for a few months, about six. They can last up to 10 months frozen, but their peak ripeness is at the six-month mark. Frequently Asked Questions Can blueberries be stored in a glass container? Yes, you can store blueberries in a glass container or jar (like a Mason jar). Be sure the container is airtight and firmly closed to avoid moisture and freezer burn. Additionally, you'll want to ensure the glass is freezer-safe if freezing the blueberries. How should you store blueberries that have been washed? Though it's best to wash blueberries right before eating and not when storing, you may find yourself needing to store blueberries that have already been washed. In this case, dry the blueberries as much as possible to minimize moisture. Then, place them in an airtight container lined with a paper towel, which helps absorb extra moisture, before putting them in the fridge. What can you do to keep blueberries from getting moldy on the counter? To keep blueberries fresh and avoid mold, you want to minimize moisture. If keeping blueberries on the counter, it's best to keep them dry and only wash those you'll be eating on the spot. Add a paper towel to the bottom of the container to absorb extra moisture. Blueberries left on the counter won't last as long as refrigerated or frozen blueberries, so eat them within a day or two. 8 Blueberry Dessert Recipes to Make This Summer Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit