3 Tips to Make Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Last Longer

 

If you sell chocolate-covered strawberries for the holidays, more specifically Valentine’s Day, and have found yourself working from sunrise to sunset to keep up with demand, these tips are for you! Keep reading for three pro tips to maximize your efforts and extend the shelf-life of these delicate fruit confections.

1. Clear communication

Although this first step will not affect the longevity of your strawberries, it will help you better prepare for the holiday. Requiring advanced orders for chocolate-covered strawberries helps create expectations for your production needs. Clear communication to your customer base is key to ensure their expectations are met too. 

2. Gently clean and air dry

The way you clean your berries could be contributing to unwanted mold. Follow these step-by-step instructions to minimize moisture and bacteria.

1. Start by wiping away dirt with a clean towel and discard unwanted mushy or moldy berries.
2. Gently submerge berries in a solution of cold water and non-pasteurized apple cider vinegar (use approximately 3 tablespoons for every one gallon of water) for five minutes. The acidity of the vinegar will kill spores and bacteria on the fresh berries.
3. Next, place the strawberries in a colander to drain excess water before air drying berries in a single layer on top of a dry towel.
4. Once the strawberries are dry, they can be placed in their original containers, which have since been cleaned and dried as well, until they are ready to dip.

3. Chilled storage

To keep chocolate-covered strawberries overnight, place dipped strawberries on containers, which are on top of gel ice packs and they can store for up to 48 hours. Avoid refrigeration which can create problems as chocolate-covered strawberries return to room temp.

These simple tips can significantly improve the way you prepare for Valentine’s Day. Now with all that extra time saved up, you may be able to devote more of it to other areas of your business or spend it with family and, hopefully, get more sleep on the morning of Valentine’s Day!

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5 Fresh, New Ways to Feature Strawberry

For many, vibrant, sweet and juicy strawberries are a welcome sign that summer is here!

Roll out the red carpet, welcoming summer’s official berry (we think…) with five fresh, new ways to feature strawberry in your summer product lineup.

Photo credit: California Strawberries

Strawberry Peanut Butter Cups
Put a fresh spin on the classic peanut butter cup with the addition of freshly slice strawberries. Click here for a recipe from California Strawberries.

Photo credit: California Strawberries

Matcha-Covered Strawberries
Perhaps an unexpected twist on chocolate-covered strawberries, the addition of matcha powder to the white chocolate is sure to pique customer interest.

Photo credit: Bridgewater Chocolate

Chocolate Strawberry Pearls
With the slight crunch of dried strawberry in the center of layers of white chocolate and strawberry-flavored chocolate, these delicate pearls made by Bridgewater Chocolate are an elegant way to showcase strawberries.

Photo credit: Taste of Home

Strawberry Pretzel Bark
Here’s a new take on the summertime classic, strawberry pretzel dessert. With its natural berry notes, ruby chocolate is a natural fit for pairing with strawberries.

Photo credit: Milk Bar

Strawberry Shortcake Truffles
Combining all the creamy, salty, buttery, fruity, unforgettably tasty flavors of strawberry shortcake in a single bite, Milk Bar’s strawberry shortcake cake truffles are made with strawberry-studded vanilla cake, soaked in strawberry milk and rolled in strawberry shortcake crumbs. Milk Bar’s founder and television personality, Christina Tosi, shares her recipe here.

With strawberries popping up in farmers markets across the country, now is the time to take advantage of your local harvest. Even if you don’t follow some of these recipes exactly, use them as inspiration to create a recipe that is totally unique to your brand!

Here’s wishing you a sweet, strawberry kind of summer!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

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Tip #278: Make Your Strawberries Last Longer

Since strawberries soak up water like a sponge, which can lead to moldy or mushy berries, it is important to be mindful of how you wash your strawberries before coating them in chocolate.

If you don’t plan on using your strawberries right away, experts agree it is best to store them in the refrigerator and wash them no more than a couple hours before using them. If you hull your strawberries before coating them, wait to do so until after they are washed. Cut strawberries will absorb even more water, making them more susceptible to mold, while also diluting their flavor. Below are two member-recommended methods for washing strawberries to make them last, we suggest experimenting to find which method works best for you.

Damp cloth method: Since strawberries are often prewashed, some experts suggest wiping strawberries with a damp cloth instead of submerging them in water to keep the moisture content low. Keep in mind as much as strawberries like to soak up water, they are equally adept at soaking up other things like pesticides. If you choose this method, consider sourcing strawberries from local farms that don’t use pesticides or are certified organic.

Vinegar solution method: If you prefer a more thorough cleaning, RCI member, Luisa Chocolatier, recommends washing strawberries in a solution of cold water and non-pasteurized apple cider vinegar (use approximately 3 tablespoons for every one gallon of water). After, first, wiping away any dirt with a clean towel and discarding unwanted mushy or moldy berries, gently submerge berries in the vinegar solution for five minutes. Next, place the strawberries in a colander to drain excess water before placing in a single layer on top of a dry towel to air dry. Once the strawberries are dry, they can be placed in their original containers, which have since been cleaned and dried as well, until they are ready to dip.

Since excess water will prevent chocolate from sticking to strawberries and also cause chocolate to have a dull appearance, both methods emphasize the importance of drying strawberries before dipping them into chocolate. Try one of these methods and let us know which works best for you!

RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. Look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox.

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Tip # 192: Make your Favorite Summer Treats Pop!

Pop Rocks Truffles from Love & Olive Oil, Patrotic Strawberries from Our Best Bites,
Firecracker Bark from Not Your Momma's Cookie

Get things poppin’ this summer with the surprising addition of Pop Rocks^® to your favorite summer recipes! Put a little unexpected zing into your truffles or sprinkle on top of chocolate-covered potato chips, chocolate-covered strawberries, barks or really anything, by incorporating this fun and festive candy into your Memorial Day, 4^th of July and Labor Day celebrations! The fun nature of the Pop Rocks makes these products great to sample during busy traffic days or promote on social media.

Keep in mind, Pop Rocks may react to the water content found in heavy cream or other ingredients used in the above recipes. To avoid this, simply coat the Pop Rocks in cocoa butter to protect the “pop” until it hits consumer’s mouths!

Pop Rocks® is a registered trademark of Zeta Espacial SA.
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