Strawberries are my son’s favourite fruit. He makes a smart choice, because not only are they low in fat and calories, they are also full of antioxidants. Other benefits of consuming strawberries include lowering our blood pressure, regulating our blood sugar and protecting us from cancer. Strawberries also increase HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or the good cholesterol in our bodies.
Strawberries are full of Vitamins C and B9, polyphenols, fibre, manganese and potassium. They also provide iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B6, K, and E.
When we consume strawberries, we improve our heart health, skin and eyes. They are extremely delicious either on their own or in desserts. Strawberry shortcakes and pancakes with strawberry syrup are popular desserts.
Fresh strawberries spoil extremely quickly. Here are top 5 tips to keep them fresh longer:
- Wash strawberries only when you want to eat them.
- Do not cut the stems or strawberries till you are ready to eat them.
- Keep them dry by wrapping them in paper towels.
- Store them in a single layer in the refrigerator.
- Seal them in air-tight containers or zip lock bags.
If you see Tony’s WA strawberries from Australia at your local supermarket, do give them a try. They are of good size and very sweet. I usually have to throw out a couple of mouldy strawberries, from other farms, from a punnet after a week or less.
However, I bought two punnets of Tony’s WA strawberries a little over a week ago. Due to my busy schedule, I forgot to eat them. When I finally remembered to eat them, I was pleasantly surprised that I did not have to throw out a single strawberry. Although the strawberries were a little dehydrated, they still tasted great. For the very first time, I didn’t have to waste any of the fruit. They were priced well too, at only about SGD5 or USD3.50 per punnet!