What Does A Strawberry Taste Like? Plus Tips for How To Select, Store and Use Strawberries

Strawberries are a popular and versatile fruit. But what does a strawberry taste like? Its flavors are a delightful combination of natural sugars, which creates a sweet taste, and the tangy twist just adds that perfect touch of balance.

What does a strawberry taste like?

The taste of a strawberry is a combination of sweet and tart. When you bite into a ripe strawberry, you will first taste the sweetness from the natural sugars. A gentle tart afternote balances the sweet flavor. Strawberries are tasty and refreshing, thanks to their juicy texture.

As strawberries ripen, their sweetness intensifies, which makes them even more enjoyable. Along with the increase in sugar content, the fruit’s color transforms into a vibrant deep red hue as it matures.

Is a strawberry a berry?

The formation of berries, like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries involves a flower with a single ovary containing seeds and pulp.

Meanwhile, strawberries are a unique type of fruit formed from a single flower with multiple ovaries, resulting in a group of tiny individual fruits that make up the larger fruit. They are not considered berries at all.

Are strawberries healthy?

Strawberries are jam-packed with essential vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. If you’re interested in learning more about the health benefits of strawberries, head over to healthline.com.

When is strawberry season?

Strawberries can usually be found in supermarkets year-round, but they are in season throughout most of the US during the month of June, except in Florida where the season runs from December to March.

How to select the best strawberries

When selecting strawberries, their size doesn’t determine the quality of the strawberry. Instead, the key factor to their deliciousness is their ripeness. Look for strawberries with a vibrant red hue and green caps that aren’t brown or shriveled. These strawberries will have the sweetest flavor.

How to store strawberries

If you intend to enjoy fresh strawberries within a day, they can last for approximately 24 hours at room temperature.

If you plan to keep them longer, it is best to store them in the refrigerator which will keep them from spoiling quickly. They should last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To avoid mold growth, it’s best not to rinse strawberries until right before you serve them. Strawberries are a fragile fruit. If you prefer to rinse them before storing them in the fridge, ensure they’re completely dry before refrigerating them.

How to clean and prepare strawberries

Before serving, wash fresh strawberries with cold water. Afterward, dry them by gently patting them with a towel. Once they are clean and dry, follow these steps to remove the stem and hull of strawberries.

• Gently twist and pull the stems off of the strawberries and then poke the tip of the knife into the top of the berry and slide it around to remove the hull.  
• Slice each berry in half.
• Slice each half into three or four vertical slices depending on the size of the strawberry and how you plan to serve them.

Foods that go well with strawberries

There are several ways to enjoy strawberries, such as eating them plain or adding a touch of citrus juice, honey, or sugar to bring out their natural sweetness. They also taste great paired with cream and soft cheeses. Here are some foods that pair well with strawberries.

• Nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, pecans, walnuts)
• Fruit (apricots, bananas, berries, citrus, grapes, mangoes, pineapples, melon, passion fruit, peaches, plums, rhubarb, pomegranates)
• Dairy (ricotta cheese, goat cheese, cream cheese, creme fraiche, mascarpone, yogurt, cream, ice cream)
• Herbs/spices (cinnamon, cloves, coriander, nutmeg, cilantro, basil)
• Sweets (honey, sugar, caramel, maple syrup)
• Alcohol (Amaretto, brandy, cognac, Grand Mariner, rum, sake, sherry, wine)
• Desserts (custards, cakes, tarts, pies, chocolate)

Try these strawberry flavor combinations

Strawberries + Balsamic vinegar + Goat Cheese

Strawberries + Lemon Juice + Ricotta Cheese + Basil

Strawberries + Ice Cream + Almonds or Pistachios

How to serve strawberries

Strawberries can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Check out some of these recipes and start enjoying the fresh strawberries’ taste before the season ends!

Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini – The perfect and easy appetizer for the summer.

Strawberry Mango Salsa – Serve this deliciously spicy and sweet salsa with grilled meat, seafood or tortilla chips.

Grilled Strawberry Balsamic Chicken – Grilled boneless chicken breasts topped with delicious fresh strawberry salsa.

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream – Refreshing and delicious homemade strawberry ice cream that is also easy to make!

Strawberry Simple Syrup – Strawberry simple syrup is a great way to use up strawberries. It’s easy to make and has many uses.

Whipped Strawberry Pie – The perfect simple summer dessert made with whipped cream and pureed strawberries.

Strawberry Salad with Candied Almonds – A delicious and refreshing salad that is hearty enough to be a meal.

Strawberry Swirl No-Knead Brioche – A delicious bread made with a sticky dough similar to ciabatta but enriched with some sugar, butter, and milk, resulting in very tender bread.

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