Berries spoil quickly, but pro chefs say this simple storage habit can help them stay fresh for much longer

Here’s what to do instead.

You may want to rethink how you store your berries. In our ongoing journey to find the best food storage solutions, we spoke to professional chefs about how they extend the freshness of their produce at home. They all agreed on one bad habit that will ruin your berries faster: Washing them before storing them in the refrigerator. 

It’s a surefire way to “introduce more moisture to the fruit and cause them to spoil more quickly,” according to Ann Ziata, a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. Multiple chefs said that glass storage is the way to go, like this Rubbermaid Brilliance glass food storage container. Others recommend perforated ceramic baskets for keeping berries fresh. Whichever material you choose, each chef is clear: Only store unwashed berries.

Chef-Approved Berry Storage Containers

• Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 4, $31, originally $42
• Onemore Ceramic Berry Basket, Set of 2, $23, originally $25
• Sewanta Wide-Mouth Mason Jars, 5-Pack, $20 with coupon, originally $23

Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 4

$42 $31 at Amazon

“Berries have zero shelf life if you wash them immediately,” warns Sue Zemanick, chef and owner of Zasu in New Orleans. She prefers to use a simple glass container like one of our favorite Rubbermaid ones. Ted Nam, executive sous chef at Swissôtel in Chicago, agrees. “Moisture is the No. 1 enemy of berries; they should only be washed right before consumption,” he shares. To avoid moldy berries, Nam recommends lining a food storage container with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture and storing berries without a lid to allow for airflow.

Onemore Ceramic Berry Basket, Set of 2

$25 $23 at Amazon

Chef Leah Delyte Di Bernardo of EAT Marketplace in Temecula, California, is passionate about berries and only trusts glass, stainless steel, or perforated ceramic containers like this one for storing her berries. “My method is simple,” she shares. “I line the bottom with a clean cotton or paper towel, place my dry berries inside, and then lay another dry towel on top before putting it in the fridge.” A ceramic basket like this one is plastic-free, and “the constant airflow helps to keep the environment dry and cool, preventing the kind of stagnant, humid conditions that lead to mold.”

Sewanta Wide-Mouth Mason Jars, 5-Pack

$23 $20 at Amazon

Odette D’Aniello, founder, CEO, and baker at Dragonfly Cakes, knows a thing or two about berry storage, given all the compotes, fillings, and frostings she makes on a daily basis. D’Aniello says the best way to store berries is “in loosely closed Mason jars with a folded paper towel in it.” The loose lid ensures constant airflow to keep berries from getting moldy. Plus, these versatile jars are great for storing soups, leftovers, sauces, and more.

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