How to Care for Fresh Blueberries

While some eat blueberries for their many health benefits, others simply enjoy their delicious taste. Though the berries are easy to eat and add to recipes, they are delicate and must be selected and stored carefully. Native to North America, blueberry plants thrive best in well-drained soil and are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 10. Off the bush, blueberries must be refrigerated or frozen as soon as possible, and handled carefully due to their thin skin and ability to bruise easily.

Berry basket
Plastic wrap
Plastic freezer bag

Instructions

- 1
  Select only ripe, high-quality blueberries. When picking your own, only pick ripe berries with a blue-gray or blue-black color. Leave white, red and green berries on the bush to ripen. Deposit your picked berries in a berry bucket or basket. When selecting berries at a store or farm stand, avoid shriveled or moldy berries or containers with juice stains.
- 2
  Take your blueberries home immediately. If driving in a car, keep the berries cool by running the air conditioner or leaving windows open. Avoid making other stops along the way. If you picked the berries yourself, leave the container open so that moisture doesn't develop inside. Keep your berries out of direct sunlight.
- 3
  Refrigerate your berries immediately upon returning home. If you picked them yourself, transfer them to a bowl or berry basket and cover them with plastic wrap. If you bought the berries, simply place them in the refrigerator in their original container. Do not rinse the berries until immediately before using.
- 4
  Consume or freeze berries within 10 to 14 days.
- 5
  Freeze berries by placing their original containers in sealable freezer bags. Do not rinse the berries before freezing. Frozen berries will last six months or longer.

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