# How to Tell When a Strawberry Is Ripe
Strawberries are high in vitamin C, low in fat and can be enjoyed plain or used in desserts. Unlike fruits such as plums, pears and bananas, strawberries will not ripen more after they are picked. Therefore, whether you are selecting strawberries at the supermarket or picking them, you will want to select only the ripe ones for the best flavor. You should also observe the strawberries for mushy areas that indicate over-ripeness.
Instructions
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Look at the entire fruit, turning it over in your hand so you can see all sides. The entire strawberry should be uniformly red, with no green, orange or yellow areas.
The strawberry's color should be bright and glossy, not muted, and the skin should appear firm and not wrinkled.
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Gently press the fruit. It should feel firm but not hard and not mushy. If the fruit feels hard, it is under-ripe. If it is mushy, the strawberry is diseased or over-ripe.
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Check out the leafy cap (also called the calyx) on the strawberry. It should be green and not yellow or brown.
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Growing Strawberries
- How Do I Tell When My Sweet Corn Is Ripe?
- How to Grow Allstar Strawberries
- How to Landscape With Strawberries
- How to Tell When a Pumpkin Should Be Picked
- How to Tell When Corn is Ripe
- How to Tell When a Chestnut Is Ripe
- How to Tell When Squash & Melons Are Ripe
- How to Tell When a Coconut Is Ripe
- How to Grow Ozark Strawberries
- How to Protect Strawberries
- How to Harvest Strawberry Seeds
- How to Plant Strawberries in Baskets
