Do you pick strawberries by hand or with scissors

It is more appropriate to use scissors when picking strawberries, which can reduce fruit damage and plant damage. Hand picking may result in pulp squeezing or stem and leaf tearing due to improper force. After strawberry ripening, the skin is delicate and tightly connected to the stem, which can easily cause three problems when picked by hand due to uneven force application. Finger pinching may squeeze the flesh and cause bruising, affecting taste and storage time. Pulling and pulling actions may cause stem and leaf tearing at the fruit stem, increasing the risk of bacterial invasion. The residual fruit stalks after picking may prick adjacent fruits and accelerate the decay of the entire basket of strawberries. professional orchards are usually equipped with pruning shears, and flat cuts can preserve intact fruit stems and reduce plant wounds.

In special circumstances, manual picking requires mastering the correct techniques. Select fully ripe strawberries and gently rotate the base of the fruit stem with your thumb and index finger. Before picking, make sure your hands are clean and dry to avoid sweat contaminating the fruit surface. It is not advisable to operate with bare hands after rain or when the morning dew is not dry, as damp environments can increase skin friction and damage. If there are no professional tools for home picking, blunt kitchen scissors can be used as a substitute, but the blades need to be disinfected in advance.

Regardless of the method used, it should be refrigerated as soon as possible after harvesting to delay softening. When placing strawberries, avoid stacking them and place absorbent paper at the bottom of the container to absorb condensed water. Mildly bumped fruits should be consumed first, and intact fruits should not be refrigerated for more than three days. It is recommended to rinse with running water for daily cleaning, as soaking can cause loss of flavor compounds. Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins, but there is a higher risk of pesticide residue on the skin. Organic grown products are more suitable for direct consumption.