Strawberries are the fragrantly sweet fruit we all adore! Juiciness and profound red color, strawberries can both brighten up and add taste to any meal; it is no surprise that they are the most popular berry fruit in the world. Although strawberries have become increasingly available year-round, they are at the peak of their season now when they are the most delicious.

The health benefits of Strawberries not only look like a fruity heart-shaped valentine, they are filled with unusual phytonutrients that love to promote your health. Strawberries, like any other berries, are well-known to be rich in antioxidants that have continually been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body's organ systems. Strawberries' unique phenol content makes them a heart-protective fruit, an anti-cancer fruit, and an anti-inflammatory fruit, all rolled into one. In terms of traditional nutrients, strawberries have an excellent source of  vitamin C so who can say no to a strawberry!
When selecting and storing strawberries, please note that they can go bad real fast. So be sure to purchase them only a few days prior to use. Try to choose berries that are firm, plump, free of mold, and which have a shiny, deep red color and attached green caps. Since strawberries, once picked, do not ripen further, avoid those that are dull in color or have green or yellow patches since they are likely to be sour and of poorer quality. Medium-sized strawberries are often more flavourful than those that are excessively large.

Like all berries, strawberries are very delicate, so take great care in their handling and storage. Before storing in the refrigerator, remove any strawberries that are molded or damaged so that they will not contaminate others. Strawberries will keep fresh in the refrigerator for one or two days. Make sure not to leave strawberries at room temperature or exposed to sunlight for too long, as this will cause them to spoil. Do not remove their caps and stems until after you have gently washed the berries under cold running water and patted them dry. This will prevent them from absorbing excess water, which can degrade strawberries' texture and flavor
To freeze strawberries, first gently wash them and pat them dry. You can either remove the cap and stem or leave them intact; depending upon what you will do with them once they are thawed. Arrange them in a single layer on a flat pan or cookie sheet and place them in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer the berries to a heavy plastic bag and return them to the freezer where they will keep for up to one year. Adding a bit of lemon juice to the berries will help to preserve their color. While strawberries can be frozen whole, cut or crushed, they will retain a higher level of their vitamin C content if left whole.