Spring is here, which mean you can find plump, bright-red strawberries from Florida in your farmers’ markets and grocery stores. Celebrate the strawberry’s sweetness with these delectable dessert recipes, from classic Southern pies and an easy cobbler to elegant cakes and light-as-air meringues.
Buying and Storing Tips
Choose berries that are firm but not hard (be gentle when handling them) and plump with bright-green leaves attached to the cap.
Strawberries do not ripen after they’re picked, so smell them. Ripe strawberries have a sweet, floral fragrance.
Store strawberries in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator in their clamshell container or in a partially sealed plastic bag. They’ll stay fresh for 5 to 7 days.
Don’t wash strawberries or remove their caps until you’re ready to eat them, and take them out of the fridge for 30 minutes or so before serving. They taste best at room temperature.
