Have mushy strawberries? You need this Strawberry Ice Water Hack! Bring them back to life and bring back that bright red color, too!
How many times have you bought strawberries only to find that some of the ones “hidden” in the middle of the package are bruised, mushy, and just appear to be no good? Trust me, I’ve been there many times. It’s time to stop wasting food and try this Strawberry Ice Water Hack instead!
This viral hack is one of the most popular hacks out there along with our Oreo Mug Cake recipe and our Dalgona Coffee Trend Recipe.

Strawberry Ice Water Hack
Instead of just wasting money and tossing those strawberries in the trash, why not try to give them new life instead? All you need is some ice, water, and a little bit of patience and you’ll be chowing down delicious, non-mushy strawberries in no time at all.
Even though I appreciate following recipes and directions, I’m always down to try a new viral hack. What I love about this hack is that it’s so simple and easy to do.
You literally just need water, ice, and a large bowl and mushy strawberries to put into the freezing cold water. Let the strawberries soak in the cold water for about 20 minutes and watch the magic happen right before your eyes.
Strawberry Ice Water Hack Tips
- While this hack is pretty cool, it’s not a miracle worker. It won’t save any strawberries that are legitimately too far “gone” with mold or something like that.
- Make certain that you leave the strawberries in the water for the full time to bring back their bright red color.
- The fresher the strawberries, the more red color that is going to pop from putting them in the ice-cold bath!
When it comes to saving as many strawberries as possible, this simple Strawberry Ice Water Hack just might be the way to make it happen.

FAQs
Strawberries will keep for about a week in the fridge. Strawberries kept at room temperature will only stay fresh for about 2-3 days before getting mushy or moldy. It is best to keep your strawberries in the fridge unless you plan to eat them within a day or two.
Strawberries are very porous and they tend to soak up water. Watery berries will quickly become moldy. Do not wash your berries before storing them as they will actually get moldy faster since the strawberries will hold on to that water and start to go bad. Strawberries also have natural mold spores on them that you may not see. These will spread quickly when the berries are wet!
Strawberries last longer with the stem on. Keeping the stem on will protect the integrity of the berries and seal off the center. Do not take the stems off and your strawberries will last longer.
Start by looking for berries that are bright red all the way over. Berries with white tops or berries that are light pink will not be sweet. Look at the bottom of the strawberry container to make sure there are no smushed berries in the bottom. A mashed berry may cause the other berries to become moldy sooner. Don’t look for the biggest berries as size does not always indicate a good flavor. Red berries that are not molding or mushed will be the best!
My Favorite Strawberry Recipes
Now that you know how to make your berries last longer and bring any sad strawberries back to life, you should try a few of these awesome recipes with fresh strawberries.
- No Bake Strawberry Jello Pie– This dessert is made with fresh berries and strawberry gelatin for an extra boost of strawberry flavor. It is light, airy and perfect for a summer dessert.
- Strawberry Bread – Bake those revived strawberries into a perfect, sweet quick bread. It is great for breakfast or add some ice cream to transform it into a perfect dessert.
- Three Ingredient Strawberry Ice Box Cake – I love how easy it is to make this ice box cake. All you need are graham crackers, Cool Whip and strawberries!
- Strawberry Waffles – Start your day off on the right foot with delicious strawberry waffles. These waffles are easy to make on a busy morning but tasty enough to be a weekend treat.
- Crockpot Strawberry Raspberry Jam – I love making this strawberry jam almost as much as I love eating it. The jam is great on bread, spread over pancakes or used as an ice cream topping. It is definitely a multi-purpose recipe!
For more amazing posts like this, check out these next!
34 Amazing Ways To Use Lemon Essential Oil