An A to Z guide to choosing, storing, preparing, and cooking fresh produce and recipe ingredients.
Elinor CarucciBlueberries
Sweet, juicy, antioxidant-rich blueberries are almost the exclusive preserve of North America—90 percent of them are grown
here. Lucky us!
Season: Year-round; peak mid-May through August.
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How to Choose Blueberries
Blueberries should be firm (not watery or shriveled) and deep purple-blue to blue-black, with a slight frosty-white hue. Check for mold and reject containers that are sticky or stained. -
How to Store Blueberries
Pick through the berries and discard damaged or moldy ones. Refrigerated unwashed in their container, they'll last up to a week longer than most berries. Dry, unwashed berries can be frozen for up to a year in an airtight container -
How to Use Blueberries
To reduce the amount of color streaking, gently fold blueberries (unthawed, if frozen) into your cake or muffin batter at the last minute. For prettier pancakes, add the berries as soon as the batter has been poured instead of mixing them into the batter.
—Katrine AmesReal Simple Blueberry Recipes:
Find out what's in season in your area right now, then locate a farmers' market near you.
