Blueberries do this not-so-fun thing where they’re perfectly fresh at the grocery store, then go bad within days of putting them in your fridge. But don’t give up hope. There’s a simple hack that prevents food waste by keeping blueberries fresh for weeks, and it requires zero extra effort.

The next time you have an empty jar on hand, don’t toss it in the recycling bin—not yet, anyway. Instead, use it to keep your blueberries fresh. When you keep your blueberries in the plastic clamshell they’re typically sold in, they get mushy and spoil pretty quickly. Putting them in an airtight glass jar solves the problem.

When using this method, the key is resisting the urge to wash the blueberries until you’re ready to use them. If you wash them before placing them in the jar, the moisture will cause them to rot more quickly. Once you’re ready to eat some, grab a handful and give them a rinse, leaving the rest of the berries as-is.

By using this method, your blueberries can go from lasting a couple days to a couple weeks. This doesn’t just work with blueberries, either. It’s also a great way to extend the life of other fresh fruit, like strawberries and blackberries. Want to give the hack a try for yourself? Follow the simple instructions below.

How to Keep Blueberries Fresh for Weeks

1. Clean out a Mason jar.
2. After the Mason jar is completely dry, add your blueberries to the jar. Don’t wash them beforehand, as this will cause them to spoil more quickly.
3. Place the jar in the fridge for storage. The blueberries will last up to two weeks, if not longer.
4. Once you’re ready to eat some blueberries, remove your desired amount and rinse.
5. Put the rest of the blueberries in the fridge for later use.

Food Waste, Sustainable Food