When blackberries are in season, you overspend at the farmer’s market. Then you wondered how to store them so they wouldn’t spoil quickly. Perhaps you’re already aware that you have an abundance of blackberries and are considering freezing them. The color and texture of blackberries indicate whether they have gone wrong. Blackberries that have gone bad are soft, mushy, and unpleasant. They can be kept in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. Blackberries should not be washed until they are ready to use, increasing moisture content and shortening shelf life. To know how to tell if blackberry is bad, read ahead.
Blackberries can be consumed within a day or two at room temperature. They are high in moisture, making them an ideal environment for mold and bacteria to thrive. If you don’t plan on eating them right away, avoid washing them for the best quality and taste. To extend the life of blackberries, keep them refrigerated.
What is Blackberry?
Blackberry is a prickly fruit-bearing bush in the rose family (Rosaceae) known for its dark edible fruits. Wild blackberries, native to northern temperate regions, are particularly abundant in eastern North America and along the Pacific coast and are cultivated in many parts of North America and Europe. Blackberries are high in iron, vitamin C, and antioxidants and are commonly consumed fresh, in preserves, or baked goods like cobblers and pies.
Blackberry plants have prickle-covered biennial canes (stems) that grow erect, semierect, or trailing stems and are closely related to raspberries (also in the Rubus genus). Many of the three or five oval, coarsely toothed, stalked leaflets that make up the compound leaves survive the winter. Flowers are white, pink, or red and produce black or red-purple fruits born in terminal clusters.
How to Tell if Blackberry is Bad?
Fresh blackberries are plump and black-blue. As they deteriorate, they will begin to show signs of deterioration. You’ll have some time to save them before they spoil to the point where they can no longer be used. Blackberries become softer as they age, and their quality will suffer. You can still eat them or use them, or even better, make smoothies, fruit salads, or jams with them. When blackberries start to rot, there will be some telltale signs. Check the following items to see if the blackberries have spoiled or are about to spoil:
- It’s best to throw out any fruit that has mold growing on it. If only a tiny portion of the blackberry has mold, the inside is most likely rotten. Mold doesn’t appear on spoiled fruit until it’s too late.
- Squeeze the blackberries gently; if they are soft and liquid is oozing out, discard them. The liquid’s texture can be slimy or runny. In any case, you should avoid eating it because it may contain harmful bacteria.
- There will be no smell of fresh blackberries. Discard it if it begins to smell sour or has an off odor.
How Long do Blackberries Last?
At room temperature, blackberries last about a day or two. If you leave them on the counter overnight in the middle of the summer, some will be on their way out the following day. They can last up to a week in the refrigerator if you follow all of the above storage instructions. Of course, this is dependent on their quality, when they were harvested, and how long they were stored before you purchased them. To get the best quality and avoid spoiled or overripe specimens, use them within 3 to 5 days.
How to Store Blackberries?
Blackberries are stored similarly to strawberries. When you get home, you should first sort through the berries and discard the bad ones. Any that are damaged, crushed, or moldy should be discarded. Microorganisms that live in blackberries can quickly spread. You may have to throw away the entire package of blackberries if one or two of the fruits are wrong and you don’t remove them within 24 hours.
You can save the good-quality blackberries for later use once you’ve run out. It’s best not to wash them before storing them at room temperature in the refrigerator or the freezer. Only when you’re ready to eat them should you wash them.
Only keep blackberries at room temperature if you plan to eat or use them within a day. Otherwise, especially if the room temperature is scorching, it will spoil before you can eat it. Place blackberries in a container and cover them with a damp towel or napkin to keep them at room temperature. This will keep the blackberries from drying out by preserving their moisture. Keep blackberries out of direct sunlight and other sources of heat. The fruit will spoil quickly due to the heat.
Can you Freeze Blackberries?
You may have already purchased frozen blackberries if you enjoy them. As a result, you’re aware that blackberries freeze well.
There are several ways to freeze blackberries, depending on what you plan to do with them. The berries can be frozen whole, cut or sliced, pureed, or jammed. Each method may necessitate more effort.
The most effective method is to dry freeze when it comes to freezing blackberries. All you have to do now is clean the berries thoroughly. Place them on wax paper after that. It can be supported by placing it on a tray. Then place the berries in the freezer for about 2-3 hours to flash freeze them. Transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag as soon as they’re completely frozen. Place the bag in the freezer, seal it, and label it.
The blackberries should be flash-frozen first to avoid sticking together while freezing. You can take as much as you want and return the rest to the freezer without fear of them sticking together. Blackberries can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months, and you can eat them after that time, but the taste and texture will deteriorate.
How to Keep Blackberries Fresh Longer?
Blackberries can be purchased fresh or frozen. To keep frozen blackberries fresh for longer, ensure they haven’t expired. Check the printed date on the package to see when the blackberries will be out of date. Preservatives are commonly used by manufacturers, so you may notice that they have an extended expiration date.
On the other hand, fresh blackberries must be checked for quality before purchasing. To ensure that it lasts as long as possible, choose the one that is the freshest. Fresh blackberries should be a uniform blue-black color and firm to the touch. You can buy them if they’re squishy and soft, but only if you plan to eat them within a day or two. They’ll go bad before you get a chance to eat them otherwise.
Aside from grocery stores, a farmer’s market is great for fresh blackberries. However, you can only purchase them when available, usually during the summer. The fruit quality is usually at its peak at the farmer’s market. Blackberries sold at farmer’s markets are typically picked the day before or after the sale. As a result, you’ll get the freshest blackberries possible.
Conclusion
Because blackberries are a soft fruit, you can tell when they’re wrong or turning. When blackberries rot, they become incredibly soft. It may be unclear if you aren’t used to blackberries because they are always soft. However, when they get it wrong, they lose their physical integrity and become almost mushy. A blackberry that is about to ripen but hasn’t yet gone bad may lose some of its colors if everything else appears to be in order. It won’t be quite as tasty as it once was, but it could be used in a smoothie or jam. Fruits can be crushed, but they can also appear crushed if they are off and have given up. The bulbs, on the other hand, may completely dry out.
Blackberries, served with ice cream or on their own, are a delicious late-summer treat. They’re also fantastic with apples. Blackberry preserves (or jam) have grown in popularity over the years as a convenient way to preserve a glut of berries for months or even years after harvest. The jam is delicious on toast, but it also works well in cocktails and as a base for dressings and glazes. Like mold on most foods, Mold on blackberries means you shouldn’t eat them.
