Spring and summer are full of bright and fresh flavours, especially in the fruit department. Beautiful berries are calling our name, melons are at their ripest, baskets of juicy peaches and nectarines are readily available, and perfect plums take us well into the fall.
That’s probably why it’s so easy to overstock on some of these offerings—especially as we tell ourselves we’re going to eat better, lighter and fresher.
So what do you do with that big batch of berries once it’s starting to get mushy, or that basketful of peaches that’s starting to bruise?
Well we have a few ideas!
1. Blend up a Smoothie
The best part about ripe fruit is that it’s usually sweetest. That makes it a great natural sweetener for your next power breakfast smoothie. Can’t use it all at once? Freeze washed and prepared fruit in airtight containers or plastic bags and enjoy summer-inspired smoothies long into fall. Try this recipe for a Raspberry Refresher Smoothie.
2. Freeze Fruity Popsicles
Turn that fruit into a natural popsicle that’s loaded with flavour and good-for-you ingredients. Puree ripe fruit in a blender until smooth then either pour directly into popsicle moulds or mix in some Greek yogurt or milk for a creamier treat. Learn How to Make Summer Fruit Popsicles.
3. Whip up Pancakes
Who doesn’t love fresh fruit on top of their stack with a little maple syrup? So why not alter your recipe and incorporate a fruit puree either on top or in the actual batter? It’s a great way to use aging fruit while switching up your weekend breakfast routine. Try The Pioneer Woman’s Cornmeal Pancakes with Blueberry Syrup.
4. Make a Marinade
We don’t often think of mixing meat and fruit, but some fruits actually make for great tenderizers. Chicken and pork can always benefit from a little fruity marinade; in fact we pretty much consider them a match made in heaven. Try Citrus Chicken with Raspberry Barbecue Sauce.
5. Toss Together a Summer Salad
We’re fans of fruit in our salad, especially when you play around with the flavour profiles. Peaches and steak go great with arugula and goat cheese, while strawberries, spinach, toasted pecans and chicken are a classic match. Riper fruit adds an unexpected sweetness that really livens up your plate. Try Valerie Bertinelli’s recipe forSpinach and Strawberry Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette.
6. Shake up a Fruity co*cktail or Boost Water with Flavour
Muddled fruit adds infinite flavour to regular old booze like vodka and gin. Create a signature co*cktail (bonus points if you can mix in some fresh herbs too) for your next barbecue, or just stick to regular old sparkling water if you want to go easy on the drinking under that hot sun. Try this Summer Berry Sparkling Sangria.
7. Jam Out
There’s nothing quite like fresh jam, is there? When done correctly it keeps forever and makes for great gifts. Jam is a terrific way to use up fruit that’s about to expire, especially if you want to liven up plain old toast or cookies. Try The Pioneer Woman’s Strawberry Jam.
8. Fill a Pie
We’re always fans of pie, no matter what the season. If you’ve got extra fruit, go ahead and whip up a few to freeze for later. Or, if you’re in the mood for a single serving of pie flavours, cut up some fruit into a bowl, add a little cinnamon and microwave it for a minute or so. Or try this Plum Cheesecake Galette.
9. Jazz up Your Yogurt
Know those “fruit-on-the-bottom” yogurts you buy? Yeah, they’re loaded with cornstarch and other added sugars. Why not whip up a healthier, fruity yogurt on your own? Muddle or blend your fruit and stir it into plain Greek yogurt. Add a little granola or chopped nuts for some extra crunch. Try Bobby Flay’sBerries Romanoff Parfait.
10. Make Fruit Leather
This works best if you have a food dehydrator, but you can do it with a regular old oven too. These “fruit roll-ups” are perfect for children and adults alike, and make for a perfect snack to-go. Try Anna Olson’s recipe for summer Raspberry Peach Fruit Leather, subbing in ripe fruit for the frozen stuff.
Too much fruit? Learn how to Get Rid of Fruit Flies for Good.
FAQs
“Freezing is a great way to lock in their quality before they turn completely,” Khoury says. Freeze the berries whole, just as they are, or, Pereira suggests, “cook them down into a compote with a bit of lemon or lime juice and some sugar”.
How to use berries before they go bad? ›
“Freezing is a great way to lock in their quality before they turn completely,” Khoury says. Freeze the berries whole, just as they are, or, Pereira suggests, “cook them down into a compote with a bit of lemon or lime juice and some sugar”.
What to do with strawberries that are going bad? ›
We recommend that you cook or macerate them with sugar and only then swirl or blend them into bases for ice cream, popsicles, or sorbet, depending on your preferences. If you are looking for delicious things to do with overripe strawberries, keep in mind that you are not limited to the classics such as jam.
How to use blueberries that are going bad? ›
Macerating—soaking or steeping in liquid and/or sweetener—is one of the easiest and fastest ways to doctor up sub-par berries. Toss them in sugar, honey, or maple syrup, along with a little fresh juice or alcohol (an herbal liqueur, like elderflower spirit, would be great).
What can I do with spoiled berries? ›
The best very best and safe method, take out the bad ones, clean (wash with water) ,and cook the rest. Use it in baking, or jam, jelly, or in yogurt, ice cream topping.
How long do berries last in mason jars? ›
Washing blueberries, the correct way, as well as storing them in mason jars or glass containers, will extend their shelf life to 6-8 weeks! This allows you to enjoy fresh blueberries for months.
What can you do with damaged fruit? ›
For produce that is overly soft or damaged (but not moldy!) We recommend that you use it up as quickly as possible. If you cannot eat it all so quickly, you can process it into a sauce or marmalade or even juice.
What to do with peaches that are going bad? ›
Jams, jellies and preserves: If your peaches are soft and overripe, they're perfect for cooking into a sweet spread for biscuits and toast. The softer the fruit, the faster it will cook down. To make peach jam or jelly, chop up the fruit and boil it with sugar, then bring to a simmer until it thickens.
Which fruit goes bad first? ›
We became interested in the different types of fruit categories and we wanted to see if it had any connection on our findings. Based on our research citrus fruits last the the longest and berries rot the fastest.
Should I throw out all strawberries if one is moldy? ›
When you find a few moldy pieces of fruit inside a container, throw out the moldy fruit and any pieces of fruit that are directly touching them. Take a close look at the remaining pieces of fruit: if there are no signs of mold and the fruit is not overly mushy, thoroughly wash the fruit prior to consuming.
Where is the best place to store strawberries? Unless you plan to use the strawberries right away, it's best to store them in your refrigerator to preserve freshness. Unrefrigerated, berries will last only a few days; stored in the fridge, they could last up to a week.
How do you revive bad strawberries? ›
You're probably pretty familiar with this trick that can revive things like wilted greens, but it turns out it works with wilted strawberries too. All you have to do is pop these "sad" strawberries into a bucket of ice water for 20 minutes and boom! They're back to being bright red and perfectly juicy again.
What to do with rotten thaen fruit? ›
How to Use Rotten Thaen Fruit in Remnant 2. Rotten Thaen Fruit is used in the following Quests or Location: Interact with the fruit in your inventory to reveal the Ghost Shell mutator hidden inside.
What should I do if I ate rotten fruit? ›
"If you are concerned that you ingested mold and are having a bad reaction to it, seek medical attention." While eating mold once is probably a non-issue for most people, Li does note that there is some evidence that eating moldy fruit over a long period of time may be harmful to your overall wellbeing.
What can fruit waste be used for? ›
Solid fruit waste is typically discarded, composted or used for animal fodder. Liquid waste is released to the environment or used for irrigation, sometimes after treatment to comply with legislative requirements.
Is it safe to eat around rotten fruit? ›
When you find a few moldy pieces of fruit inside a container, throw out the moldy fruit and any pieces of fruit that are directly touching them. Take a close look at the remaining pieces of fruit: if there are no signs of mold and the fruit is not overly mushy, thoroughly wash the fruit prior to consuming.
