Strawberry

Once available in Britain for just a brief period during the summerstrawberries are now a year-round fruitthanks to imports from warmer climates. Howeverthe varieties grown for export tend to be chosen for their ability to withstand transportationrather than for their texture or flavourwhich often results in a less tender berry with an unremarkable taste. The fact that strawberries intended for export are picked before they're properly ripemeans that their flavour is further impaired; strawberries don't ripen after being picked.

To enjoy strawberries at their fragrantjuicy and flavourful best it's worth holding out for the British season - if you want to eat them super-ripepick-your-own is best.

Read our guide on the health benefits of strawberry.

Availability

Imports are available all year roundbut the British season runs from late May to early September. Strawberries are easy to grow in the garden or in a pot on a sunny windowsill - just remember to protect them from birds when the fruits appear!

Learn how to grow your own strawberries from the experts at Gardeners’ World.

Choose the best

Look for plumpshinytender berrieswith a goodbright colour and a sweet aromapreferably with their leafy green calyx and stalk still attached. Avoid mushy or mouldy berries.

If you're buying a punnetcheck that the underside isn't stained - that means the lower level of berries has been crushed. Large strawberries tend to have a higher water contentso are less flavourful - go for small to medium-sized ones.

Elsanta is one of the most common strawberries available - it is sweetbut has a high water contentgiving it a crisp texture. For flavoursweetness and a softer texturelook for other British varietiessuch as AvaFlorenceAlice and Rhapsody.

Also look out for the wild fraises des boisfrom France. Smallwith a conical shapethey have a wonderfully intense aroma and flavour.

Prepare it

Strawberries become mushy quite quickly on contact with waterso wash very brieflyhull (ie remove the calyx and stalk - on fully ripe strawberries this can be gently pulled out quite easily; otherwise it should be cut out with a smallsharp knife)then keep wholehalf or quarteras required.

Store it

Arrange strawberries on a layer of kitchen paper on a plateso that they don't crush each otherand store them in the fridge. Take them out of the fridge an hour before eatingso that they're room temperature. Never wash before refrigerating themas they'll go soggy. Eat within a couple of days of buying or picking.

Cook it

Eat raw with cream or ice cream or sprinkled with a little balsamic vinegar. Add to fruit salads. Use to make jamtarts or to top puddings.

Alternatives

Try raspberry.