The strawberry is a fruit widely recommended by nutrition experts, not only because of the versatility of its flavor (sometimes it can be sweet and sometimes sour) that offers when preparing hundreds of different recipes, but also because it is a food that provides nutrients to the organism, among them: vitamin C, E, folic acid and beta-carotene, so its daily consumption is really positive. However, cutting the stem before washing can cause it to lose its properties, shorten its shelf life and damage its delicious texture.
Strawberries are one of the most irresistible fruits that can be found in fruit shops and supermarkets during spring and early summer (March-July approximately). Its attractive deep reddish color is attractive to the eye and, when you take the first bite, you have already fallen into the nets of its unique flavor, sometimes sweeter and sometimes more acidic.
When is the strawberry stem cut?
To be honest, until I did some research on the subject, I had no idea how important it is to cut the strawberry stem at the right time. This moment is so important that it will determine whether the strawberries will last longer or shorter, and even cutting them when they should not can interfere with their texture and flavor.
In short, you should never cut the stem of strawberries before washing them. As the famous Basque chef Karlos Arguiñano once explained on his television program “If we cut the stem before washing it, it will leave a small hole in the fruit, imperceptible to the human eye, through which the fruit can be washed. water will get inside when we are washing it. This will make the strawberry more watery and, consequently, it will lose flavor, texture and become mushy very quickly.
In short, the best advice we can give you is to cut off the stems just before you are going to eat them to ensure that they retain all their flavor, nutrients and vitamins. We would also like to take this opportunity to point out how important it is to Wash strawberries with water under the tap before eating them because the soil where they are grown is full of soil, dust and even chemical agents such as pesticides that are not good for people’s health.
Why should the strawberry stem not be cut before washing?
If you have come this far, it is because you probably have this question going around in your head: “Do you cut the strawberry stem before or after washing it? “ The answer is: after. If you are wondering why; the Spanish chef, TV presenter, actor, writer and businessman, Karlos Arguiñano Urkiola in his program “Cocina abierta” on Antena 3 explained to his viewers this interesting -and useful- fact.
This mediatic chef with more than 30 years of experience says that if strawberries are removed before washing them, when they are washed
“el verde” (the green one)
before, at the moment of washing them, it facilitates the entry of water into their interior and they will become more watery. In this detail, which seems to be of little importance, the strawberry lasts less time in good condition and changes its texture faster, therefore, its flavor will not be the same.
What is the correct way to wash strawberries?
Strawberries can be incorporated into countless sweet or savory recipes such as desserts like this exquisite cake, snacks, shakes, smoothies, salads, yogurt and others thanks to its aroma and exquisite flavor. However, it is vital that, even if you have the stalk before consuming them, wash very well with clean water and, if possible, Rinse with a sponge and neutral liquid soap, since in the soil there may be pathogenic microorganisms and harmful chemical elements, besides, this is one of the fruits in which more pesticides are applied.
What are the benefits of strawberries?
It is a fruit with an excellent antioxidant power, which confers protection against the effect of free radicals that cause aging and cardiovascular diseases. Its high fiber content favors intestinal transit and fights constipation. Finally, the natural presence of xylitol makes it an infallible ally to improve oral health .
And best of all, this delicious fruit also has countless other benefits for the organism. For example, we can highlight some of them, such as that it has more vitamin C than oranges, it contains a lot of fiber, and it is low in calories, helps reduce cholesterol and prevent diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer, among others.
However, in order to take advantage of all the nutritional properties of strawberries, it is very important to know when to cut the stems, in addition to washing them properly under running water, of course. So we ask you, do you know when to cut the stem of the strawberry? The answer is in the following lines.
Ways to consume strawberries
The strawberry season, as mentioned above, runs from March to early July. Although you can find strawberries during the rest of the year, it is in these months when their flavor is more authentic and their texture more crunchy. We love strawberries because they can be eaten on their own or integrated into countless recipes, both sweet and savory.
The most common form of consumption is to take them as a dessert without anything else, although many people also make strawberry smoothies with them, mix them with cream, yogurt, orange juice or sprinkle a little white sugar on top. Strawberries are also widely used in sweet recipes such as cakes, pies, jams or marmalade and you can also chop them and add them as a condiment to your salad to give it a totally different flavor touch.
