How to pick the best blueberry!
These blueberry tips will help you bring home the best blueberries whether you harvest at a U-pick farm, or purchase from your grocery store or farmers’ market.
Ripe blueberries are plump and deep blue with a dusting of gray on the surface. A blueberry that is firm or shows any hint of red isn’t fully ripened and will likely be tart. White and green colored blueberries are not ripe, leave them on the bush or in the store as they will not ripen. Blueberries that have turned purple, red or blue-ish may ripen after they are picked.
Do not expose picked blueberries to sun or heat in closed bags or containers. Blueberries are fragile and heating them up will shorten how long they can be stored without freezing or cooking. You will note that in the store the containers have lots of holes. That is so they can breathe!
When inspecting packed blueberries, look for smooth, blue skin. If you see wrinkled blueberries, fuzzy white mold or leakage, the blueberries are in the process of spoiling!
When you get your blueberries home, do not wash them before freezing, or until you are ready to eat or cook with them. Washing blueberries prematurely makes them mushy. Sort through your blueberries, removing any with mold. Removing the moldy blueberries will keep one from spoiling the whole bunch.
Refrigerate your blueberries as soon as possible. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep up to two weeks in ideal conditions. Best to eat them within a week for best taste and texture!
Important how to pick blueberry tip: Baskets are better than bags to store blueberries while you are picking them. Some U-pick locations provide containers, check with the U-pick farm before you visit.
