B&M is selling a Berry Basket Container for £4 in stores across the UK. The container is designed to help fruit last as long as possible in the fridge, reducing food waste and saving money.
Design Features That Extend Shelf Life
According to the product description, B&M said that shoppers can "keep berries/fruit together in one place." The container has two removable baskets that act like mini-colanders, keeping berries slightly elevated off the solid bottom of the main outer box. This prevents them from sitting in their own condensation and trapped moisture, which is the number one cause of rapid mould growth.
Fruit fans can also pull the baskets out to wash their berries under the tap, let them dry, and put them right back in. By following all of the tips below, berries could last several days beyond what the supermarkets claim on the packaging.
Tips for Maximum Freshness
Even with a basket insert, if you put dripping wet berries into the container and seal it, the trapped humidity will cause them to rot. After washing them in the baskets, spread them out on a paper towel for up to 15 minutes to dry fully.
Go a step further and slip a small piece of folded kitchen roll into the very bottom of the main clear container (underneath the baskets). Any condensation that drips down will be absorbed by the towel instead of creating a humid pool at the bottom.
Importantly, don't pack your fruit too tightly into the container. By giving the fruit a little room, air can circulate through the holes in the inner baskets and improve how long they are likely to last before going off.
Other Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes people make with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries is washing everything at once. Introducing moisture is what leads to mould growth, so only wash what you plan to eat today.
Another error is keeping them in the plastic supermarket containers, which are best suited for shipping and display, not long-term storage in the fridge. Because the berries sit directly on the flat plastic bottom, condensation pools underneath them.
The berries at the bottom end up crushed under the weight of those above them, soaking up moisture, creating the perfect breeding ground for fuzzy mould. Berries will last longer if these 'bad ones' are quickly plucked from the container to prevent mould from spreading to the 'good' berries.
