I’ve never seen anyone relishblueberry seasonquite like my mother-in-law.
Diving between the branches, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.
She’s such a frequent picker that her refrigerator becomes a stockpile by midsummer.
Credit: Katie Rousso
But with that kind of stockpile of blueberries, how do you make them last?
Picked blueberries typically last up to 14 days in the fridge or a day or two on the counter.
Here’s how a self-proclaimed blueberry fanatic stores her fresh-picked blueberries so they last for months.
Credit: Katie Rousso
You might be surprised how many picking options are around your area, so give it a Google.
It’s important to pick just the right ones, too.
Look for completely blue, ripe blueberries that fall off the stem with the slightest touch.
If you have to pull, they may not be ready.
Don’t forget to circle back to spots you think you’ve already exhausted.
There’s something about a new perspective that will magically reveal all the good ones you may have missed.
Sort Berries Once You Get Home
Pour your loot onto a perforated baking sheet.
Pull off any stems and sort out any berries that are red, tiny, or split.
Let them sit on the baking sheet for a few hours until they are completely dry.
It’s the coldest part of the fridge, which will help preserve your berries withoutfreezing them.
Fresh blueberries in the wintertime?
It’s worth the extra work.
