How to Wash Blueberries the Right Way

Knowing how to wash blueberries the right way before eating or baking with them greatly increases your food safety. Washing blueberries removes dirt and toxins that may cling to the fruit during handling and transport from farm to store. Though you may want to wash blueberries in distilled white vinegar, washing the fruit in anything more complicated than tap water before eating them as a snack or using them for desserts or smoothies is typically unnecessary. Ahead, an expert chef and a food scientist share with us how to wash blueberries properly, plus tips for drying them to keep them plump and avoid mold.

Why You Need to Wash Blueberries

Although your blueberries might look clean, you need to wash them before eating or using them in recipes. "Blueberries should be washed because they [can] carry dirt, debris, bugs, parasites, and other contaminants," says Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., food scientist, food consultant, and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered. These contaminants can also carry pathogens, which may cause foodborne illness.

How to Wash Blueberries

"Before washing blueberries, inspect and remove [ones] that are moldy or broken, as well as debris like leaves or stems," says Trung Vu, chef instructor of pastry and baking arts at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.

To wash blueberries, follow these steps, as provided by Vu:

1. Place the blueberries in a colander. If you need to wash a lot of berries, do it in batches to avoid overcrowding.
2. Rinse the blueberries under cold running water, gently swishing them around with your hands to ensure all the berries are exposed to water.
3. Gently shake the colander to remove excess water.

How to Dry Blueberries After Washing

After washing, blueberries should be dried so they don't get soft and spoil. Here's how to properly dry them, according to Vu:

1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a clean cloth towel or several paper towels.
2. Place the blueberries on the sheet in a single layer.
3. Gently pat the blueberries dry with the towel(s). You can carefully swirl them around to help remove excess water.
4. Let the blueberries sit for about five minutes, allowing the towels to soak up the excess moisture.

When to Wash Blueberries

Only wash blueberries just before using them. You should avoid washing blueberries before storing them in the refrigerator, as the extra moisture will cause them to spoil faster. This can also make them soft and mushy, says Vu, so wait until you're ready to eat them.

How to Store Blueberries After Washing

If you need to store washed berries in the refrigerator, the first step is to make sure they are completely dry. Once dry, place berries in a container with holes (such as the one it came in from the store) and keep them on the top or bottom shelf of your fridge. These areas of your refrigerator are often the coldest and will preserve your berries the best; avoid storing them in the door shelves, which are often the warmest.

To freeze your blueberries, line them in a single layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and place them in the freezer. They will take two to four hours to freeze completely. Once frozen, transfer the berries to a freezer bag and label it with the date. Frozen blueberries will stay fresh for up to six months, making it convenient to have them on hand for smoothies or to add to your yogurt in the morning.

Additional Tips for Washing Blueberries

• Wash your hands first: Before washing blueberries (or any produce, for that matter), wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This will ensure your hands are clean, reducing the risk of contamination.
  
• Use distilled white vinegar: To further clean blueberries, add them to a bowl with a 3-to-1 mixture of water and distilled white vinegar, recommends Le. Swirl the berries for about a minute, then rinse them for 30 seconds under cold water to remove the vinegar, and dry as directed above.
  
• Avoid washing blueberries with soap: There's no need to use soap to wash blueberries. The soap can be absorbed by the berries, potentially introducing contaminants. You can also skip the commercial produce washes; there is not much research on their safety and effectiveness.
  
• Use a clean towel: When drying blueberries, always use a clean kitchen towel or new paper towels. This will "prevent bacteria and debris from re-contaminating the berries," says Le.
  
• Wash and dry blueberries well before freezing: Blueberries should be washed before freezing because frozen berries become soft and mushy once thawed, so you won't be able to properly wash them after freezing. Also, always completely dry blueberries before freezing them, says Vu. Otherwise, the excess moisture will cause the blueberries to freeze into clumps.