It’s finally that time again: The strawberry season has started! Reason enough to use the aromatic fruits for spring desserts and cakes. We have put together for you 10 cute ideas with red fruit that will definitely delight you!

Bright red and wonderfully sweet: Take advantage of the strawberry season and add variety to your selection of strawberry recipes. Try our delicious strawberry dishes and discover the seasonal pleasure in a new way!

1. Chocolate cake with vanilla cream

This delicious cake convinces every guest: wonderfully chocolaty thanks to the chocolate base and chocolate chips and filled with wonderfully airy vanilla cream. The strawberries, which are used here as a cake topping, make it even more aromatic.

2. Strawberry ragout on rice pudding

Milk, lemon, rice, salt, strawberries, pistachios and maple syrup – this creamy dessert proves that a successful dessert doesn’t need many ingredients. Perfect for a spontaneous visit or as the crowning glory of a delicious summer meal!

3. Sweet Strawberry Banana Wraps with Peanut Butter

Wraps with a difference: This healthy snack is great for in-between meals. But the sweet wraps are also ideal for breakfast or as a dessert: Thanks to fruity strawberries, pleasant sweetness, and creamy peanut butter, they are simply convincing at any time of the day!

4. Creamy rhubarb and strawberry ice cream

Whipped cream makes this fruity ice cream particularly creamy, but thanks to the yogurt content, the dessert becomes a figure-friendly treat. The fresh berries and sour rhubarb round off the summery refreshment perfectly.

5. Rhubarb Strawberry Crumble with Apple

Everyone knows this classic dessert – so how about a particularly fruity variant with strawberries, rhubarb, and apple? During the strawberry season, this delicacy simply crowns every menu!

6. Sweet Spinach Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce

Initially, nobody would associate spinach with pancakes. But the leafy greens also cut a fine figure in the sweet version – for example, like here with delicious strawberry sauce.

7. Pink berry coconut drink with silken tofu

The bright pink color of this delicious drink puts you in a good mood and provides you with an extra portion of protein. The light coconut note also gets us in the mood for summer – what more could you ask for?

8. Fruit salad on quark cream with vanilla

Everyone knows quark cream – this delicious version with vanilla is a very special treat thanks to the aromatic, fruity, and sour accompaniment. A crunchy topping in the form of chopped pistachios completes the delicious dessert.

9. Poppy seed pancakes with strawberries

Whether as an unusual breakfast at the weekend, as a dessert, or as an alternative to cake – the poppy seed pancakes with whipped cream, strawberries, flaked almonds, and powdered sugar are a hit with every strawberry fan.

10. Strawberry cake with the shortcrust pastry base

A classic strawberry cake should not be missing with a summer coffee, right? This delicious variant convinces with a crispy shortcrust pastry base, a creamy layer of cream cheese, and bright red strawberries.

Strawberries are a real summer highlight. Then we’re really lucky that we can enjoy Spanish strawberries as early as January, right? OKO-TEST explains why you should enjoy strawberries seasonally and why you should choose German fruit.

Thanks to large strawberry plantations in Spain, we can enjoy the red fruit all year round at reasonable prices. Actually sounds pretty perfect. But exactly the opposite is the case, as Oko-Test proves.

Strawberries are in season from May to August. However, as a rule, strawberries can be found on fruit shelves all year round as they are grown in Huelva in southern Spain. In this region, it is pleasantly warm all year round, but there is not much precipitation there. And that’s where the problem lies.

A whopping 276 liters of water are needed to grow one kilogram of strawberries. But since water is a scarce commodity in southern Spain, farmers dig illegal wells to irrigate the fields. Due to large-scale agriculture, the water consumption in southern Spain is significantly greater than the proportion that can be obtained naturally.

The consequences are dramatic: the groundwater level drops by ten meters every year, rivers dry up and many regions are threatened by desertification.

Oko-Test recommends seasonal strawberries from Germany

Another problem with Spanish strawberries is the high pesticide load. In Germany, much stricter guidelines apply and many pesticides are banned. Although Spain sells the majority of strawberries to Germany, its own regulations apply and not the German ones.

It is gratifying that the current pesticide load is lower than in previous years. However, the pesticides that are used are of particular concern as they are carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction.

The test results

A total of ten strawberries from Spain were tested in different supermarkets. Whether it’s Aldi, Edeka, Rewe, Lidl, Kaufland, Norma, Real, or Penny: All strawberries come from extremely dry regions and are contaminated with pesticides. Only in the case of the strawberries from Aldi Nord were no particularly questionable pesticides found. The overall rating was sufficient for all strawberries. Rewe’s strawberries were even rated unsatisfactory.

Oko-Test recommendations

Enjoy local strawberries. Not only are they less contaminated with pesticides, but they also taste even better. In addition, the high water consumption in Germany is less of a concern because they are grown in regions where there is no risk of desertification.

Strawberries from Spain or Morocco are ecologically extremely questionable because a large amount of water is used for cultivation.

Many useful tips on strawberries at a glance. Recognizing fresh strawberries, tricks for storage, and shelf life of strawberries. Instructions to avoid slippery mushy strawberries. This way you can enjoy the berries more when eating them or processing them in the household.

Strawberries are very healthy. You get more vitamin C than the citrus fruits lemons or oranges because 65 mg of vitamin C per 100 g is a lot. The berries are particularly suitable for figure-hugging nutrition: 100g of the berries contain only 33 calories.

Identify fresh strawberries

The berries are very delicate. You need to be particularly careful with supermarket packs because there are often a few squishy berries underneath. To be able to recognize fresh strawberries when shopping, consider the following strawberry tips:

• Lush and green stems as well as fresh and vital leaves.
• The red tone and shine of the strawberries are decisive for the taste. Dull berries are not fresh. The shinier, the fruitier, and the juicier the berries taste.
• Always rich in the fruit, because fresh strawberries are richer and richer in flavor. The more intense they smell, the fresher the 12 odorants are.

Prevent slippery and mushy strawberries

When preparing fresh strawberries, it is easy to make a small mistake: strawberries should always be washed first and then cleaned. Otherwise, they absorb too much water and become mushy.

Storage and shelf life of strawberries

Strawberries are very sensitive to pressure and temperature. Therefore, the berries are easily perishable if not handled carefully and properly. You should check the berries for bruises when you buy them. The strawberries must not be overripe when you buy them, because they will continue to ripen.

• To ensure that nothing happens to the berries, always transport the pressure-sensitive berries carefully.
• Eat or process strawberries immediately after purchase.
• The berries can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 36 hours.
• For longer shelf life, berries can simply be frozen.
• Frozen strawberries can be kept for up to a year.

Strawberries are healthy, that’s for sure. But why actually? What are the most important nutrients and vitamins? And why are organic strawberries healthier?

As the days get longer, the annual strawberry season is approaching. Strawberries provide you with important vitamins and essential minerals and fiber.

Strawberries not only have a positive effect on health. You can also easily eat them in large numbers without it being noticeable on the scale. Because strawberries contain just 32 kilocalories per 100 grams – half as many as most apple varieties. Bananas, for example, have around 90 kilocalories, and avocados even 130.

Strawberries contain a lot of folic acid (vitamin B9)

Folic acid is a B vitamin and should not be neglected in a healthy diet. It plays an essential role in cell division processes, which in turn are responsible for growth processes. Therefore, pregnant women have an increased need for folic acid. Women who want children should also eat more foods with a lot of folic acid.

Strawberries contain plenty of vitamin B9. 250 grams of strawberries have 110 micrograms of folic acid. The daily requirement of adolescents and adults is 300 micrograms. In pregnant women, the daily requirement is almost twice as high.

Potassium makes strawberries healthy

The mineral potassium is indispensable for the human organism. Together with sodium, potassium transmits signals between cells, for example between nerve and muscle cells. So without potassium you would not be able to move or read this text. It also helps maintain healthy blood pressure and even reduces the risk of stroke.

Strawberries provide a healthy base of potassium. However, you still need other foods to provide you with sufficient minerals and to eat healthily. For example, spinach, cashews, peanuts, and kidney beans are high in potassium. In addition to potassium, strawberries also contain large amounts of manganese, copper and zinc.

Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges

you read correctly Oranges and lemons are rightly known for being high in vitamin C. Nevertheless, they cannot compete with the local strawberry.

A quantity of 150 grams of strawberries already covers the daily requirement of vitamin C. Ripe and darker strawberries contain more vitamin C than lighter ones.

If you consume enough vitamin C, the nutrient strengthens your immune system and your health. A slight deficiency can manifest itself in tiredness and bleeding gums.

Strawberries are carriers of healthy fiber

Fiber can bind large amounts of water. This allows food to pass through the digestive tract more easily, preventing constipation.

In addition, dietary fibers are the basic nutritional basis for intestinal bacteria. The more fiber you give them, the better they work and the healthier you feel. In addition to strawberries, numerous types of vegetables such as broccoli or peas, legumes, nuts and seeds are excellent sources of fiber.

Secondary plant substances are essential for health

The positive effects of strawberries on health are due to the numerous vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. However, recent studies show that secondary plant substances can also have a major impact on health. Strawberries contain polyphenols and flavonoids as secondary plant substances.

A study from the University of California suggests that polyphenols can strengthen the cardiovascular system and prevent diseases of the nervous system. They are also said to help against obesity and even fight esophageal cancer.

Flavonoids are responsible for the red color of strawberries. They have an antioxidant effect and can destroy so-called “free radicals”. Too many free radicals in the body are suspected of contributing to diseases such as cancer, arteriosclerosis or arthritis.

However, secondary plant substances should only be consumed through food and not through dietary supplements. Secondary plant substances only work in interaction with other nutrients. Taking supplements alone can even be harmful to your health.

Strawberries are very delicate and perishable. Therefore, it is important to store strawberries properly. You can find out here how they stay fresh the longest.

Freshly picked strawberries are very aromatic and rich in vitamin C, folic acid and other important nutrients. Unfortunately, they are also easily perishable and quickly lose their aroma. That’s why you should always buy them fresh from the region or pick them yourself. In addition, it is important that the strawberries are not crushed during transport and get fresh air.

It is best if you store the strawberries at room temperature and eat them the same day. Since water strips the flavor of the fruit, wash it and remove the stems and leaves just before eating. You should always cut out bad spots immediately, as mold in strawberries spreads quickly due to the high water content.

Store strawberries in the fridge

Strawberries will keep in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for up to two days if you store them properly. For this it is important that you keep the strawberries unwashed in the fridge. Additional moisture would cause the fruit to spoil faster.

So that the strawberries get enough air, it is best to put them in a large sieve. But be careful not to stack them too high. It also makes sense to line the bottom of the crisper with kitchen paper, as it will absorb excess moisture. If you don’t have a large colander, you can store the strawberries on a large plate or tray lined with paper towels.

Freeze strawberries

If you want to store the fruit longer, you can also freeze the strawberries. Unfortunately, they get a bit mushy when defrosting, but you can still make a delicious strawberry sauce or a smoothie out of them, for example.

Tip: In order to be able to portion the fruit better later, you can freeze them individually before you freeze them properly. To do this, place them on a tray or large plate and freeze them for a few hours. Then fill them together in a freezer.

canning strawberries

Instead of freezing them, you can also cannish the strawberries. It works like this:
Wash the strawberries thoroughly and remove the pulp.
Place them in clean, boiled mason jars.
Boil water with sugar in a ratio of 3:1 in a saucepan.
Allow the resulting sugar water to cool.
Pour the sugar water over the strawberries up to the rim of the jar and seal tightly.
Now you boil the jars. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can also do this in the oven:
Place the mason jars on the rack in the oven.
Fill a baking sheet two inches high with water and slide it onto the rail under the rack.
Heat the oven to 130 degrees until the water on the tray starts to boil.
Turn off the oven and let the jars cool in the oven for about 30 minutes.
When the jars have cooled, you can remove them from the oven, label them, and store them in a cool, dark, and dry place.

You can easily freeze strawberries without losing much of their flavor. Not only whole fruits are suitable for freezing, you can also preserve strawberry puree in this way. You can find out more about the various options here.

You can freeze strawberries after the strawberry season and thus preserve them. Depending on the weather, the strawberry season varies slightly from year to year. However, the bright red fruits can usually be harvested between May and July. Then they also have high season in supermarkets and organic shops. In order to have delicious strawberries for the rest of the summer and even in winter, we show you different ways to freeze them.

Freeze strawberries: instructions for whole fruits

You can easily freeze fresh strawberries – whether from the organic market or harvested yourself – as whole fruits:

It is important that you wash the strawberries thoroughly before freezing. It is best to clean them in cold, standing water, for example in a large bowl or in the sink, so that you do not damage the fruit.
Now remove all stems and remaining foliage.
Then pat the berries dry with some kitchen paper or a towel. They must not be wet when freezing, so that a layer of ice does not form.
To prevent the fruit from sticking together later when defrosting, freeze them first: place berry by berry next to each other on a flat plate or tray. The berries should not touch each other. Then place everything in the freezer for an hour or two.
To make room again, you can then fill the strawberries into their final freezer container. Place the pre-frozen berries in a stainless steel freezer box and store in the freezer. Frozen fresh strawberries will keep for about eight months.

Tip: Only use freshly harvested soil without dents or holes for freezing. Damaged fruit spoils faster even in the freezer – better eat it now.

Freeze strawberries as a puree

You can also puree the strawberries before freezing them. After defrosting, you have fresh strawberry puree at hand that is perfect for pancakes, with homemade Bircher muesli or to be enjoyed on its own. You can also cook strawberry jam or combine it with rhubarb to make strawberry rhubarb jam.

Wash the undamaged, fresh fruit in standing, cold water (as described above).
Remove the stems and foliage, then gently pat the strawberries dry with a towel.
Place the strawberries in a tall container and puree them into a smooth cream.
If you want the puree to be even creamier and finer, spoon it through a fine sieve before freezing. So you can easily catch the small seeds.
Pour the strawberry puree into a freezer bowl or glass.
Tip: You can also pour your pureed strawberry puree into ice cube molds. Frozen strawberry ice cubes taste wonderful in sparkling wine, mineral water or homemade cocktails.