Worried About Worms In Your Strawberries? Soak Them First.
You've been warned.
There's a video making the rounds on the internet that may have you rethinking your summer strawberry addiction. You've been warned. TikTok and other social media outlets have been flooded with videos of people putting their strawberries in salty water. What happens next in the videos is alarming: Tiny larvae emerge from the otherwise unblemished fruit. If you're not too grossed out, read on, because we'll tell you what those little worms are and how to eliminate them from your fresh-picked strawberries.
What Are Those Worms In My Strawberries?
According to Cornell University's Fruit Resources, berries can be infested by the larvae of a fruit fly called the spotted wing Drosophila, or SWD. These pests came to the U.S. around 2011 and have since spread across the country. You might not have to worry as much in spring or even in June, because they often don't attack strawberries until later in the summer, according to the OSU Extension in Ohio. They also frequently lay eggs in blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and other soft-fleshed fruits like peaches and plums. After a few days, the fruit starts to wrinkle and crater, making it downright unappetizing. But before then, the damage is nearly invisible.
Related: How To Clean Strawberries
How To Soak Strawberries In Salt Water
These little buggers are really hard to spot, and that's where a salt soak comes in. Cornell recommends checking for larvae by creating a solution of enough water to cover your berries, adding 1 tablespoon of salt for each cup of water, and waiting about 15 minutes to see if anything crawls out.
Related: When Are Strawberries In Season?
Insects In Your Strawberries Won't Hurt You
While it's admittedly unsavory, don't swear off Cakey Strawberry Cobbler forever. After all, most Southerners have eaten freshly picked strawberries, strawberry shortcake, and strawberry ice cream for years and survived. In fact, as Poison Control notes, many cultures intentionally eat insects as a source of protein.
But, if you're like us, that doesn't make you feel any less squeamish. Cornell notes that chilling strawberries to 32°F will slow or stop the development of larvae, so the best practice is to keep that carton of berries in your fridge.
How To Prepare Strawberries For Eating
Whether you're worried about bugs or not, washing your strawberries is always a good idea. Those beautiful red berries are not easy to grow and farmers tend to rely on pesticides and soil fumigants to try and ward off bugs. Unfortunately, those chemicals aren't great to eat, which is why you should wash your berries before eating them. First, pick out any moldy or rotting strawberries and throw them out. Then, soak them in a mixture of 3 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar, allow them to dry, and put them back in the fridge.
Related: How To Keep Your Berries Fresher Longer With Vinegar
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