CL Hint of the Day: Hanging on to those summer berries

Conventional wisdom says not to wash your berries until just before you use them to prevent spoilage, but this method works even better. I've even had berries that lasted so long they started to lose their flavor, but still didn't start molding. The secret ingredient?

Isn't it always vinegar?

Wash the berries in a container, covered by a 3:1 water:vinegar solution. Rinse in a strainer, and drain thoroughly. The vinegar kills off anything that might want to eat your berries before you do!

Source: Cook's Illustrated, via Amy Welborn