How to wash strawberries the right way

Few fruits are as widely enjoyed as strawberries. They top the list of the most popular fruits sold in the U.S. and appear in lunchboxes, smoothies, salads, shortcakes and countless desserts. And their appeal extends well beyond flavor as each strawberry provides plenty of fiber, vitamin C, folate, potassium, manganese and an array of beneficial plant compounds − all while containing only about 4 calories per medium-sized berry.

"Strawberries are one of those foods that check a lot of nutritional boxes at once," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author of "Read It Before You Eat It – Taking You from Label to Table." "They’re also naturally sweet, can be enjoyed any time, are versatile, and, most of all, they are delicious."

But before you enjoy them, strawberries should be handled and washed properly. Here’s why – and how best to do so.

Peak strawberry season across most of the U.S. runs from spring through early summer. "That’s when strawberries are usually at their sweetest and available at their best prices," says Taub-Dix. Indeed, many June-bearing varieties produce most of their fruit during this relatively short window, though California’s long growing season and Florida’s winter crop help keep…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/life/