When to wash the berries

So you just popped over and picked a pint or ten of berries.  How are you going to store them?  Should you wash them first?  Well here are the answers to these important questions.

First off, if you are going to eat them fresh, please wash them.  Our crop is outside where birds and insects live so there is a chance those berries could have been touched by someone else besides you! Go ahead and give them a rinse in some cool water just in case.

If the blueberries are going to be stored in the refrigerator, they can last up to 10 days according to my husband.  It is best NOT to wash them before storing them otherwise they will not last as long.

To store in the freezer, lay them out on a cookie sheet with out washing them.  You can easily see if there are any stems this way.  Stems are much easier to pull off a fresh blueberry!  

Whatever you plan to do, enjoy.