Last week we went to Oaklands Fruit Farm to see our growers in action and find out why strawberries sometimes end up in our boxes.

As well as a few punnets for the train ride back (well, it would be rude not to), we also left with some juicy tips from our grower James for getting the most from your strawberries at home.

1. Fridge is best

Strawberries will last twice as long if they’re kept cool, so pop them in the fridge as soon as you unpack your box. They taste best at room temperature though, so take them out around an hour or so before you tuck in, or start cooking.

2. Look at the leaves

If you’re choosing strawberries in a shop or market, always look for the healthiest-looking leaves. After they’re picked, the leaves start to dry and wilt, so strawberries with greener, bushier tops will last longer. The size and colour of the actual berries doesn’t matter, although the smallest ones are often super-sweet because they’ve ripened faster while growing.

3. Save the softies

You don’t need hundreds and hundreds of berries to make a jam – if you find yourself with soft or mushy strawberries, have a go at our Chia Seed Strawberry Jam recipe. It’s super-simple and quick to make, and only uses three ingredients: strawberries, chia seeds and a little sweetener.

4. Use a straw

Using a knife to chop off the leafy tops often means lots of the berry gets wasted. So instead, use a metal straw pushed up through the bottom of each strawberry to chop the top off. Or just keep it simple with a twist and pinch.

5. Eat the green bits

Strawberry leaves are totally edible and will often blend in unnoticed in strawberry recipes. So next time you’re making a smoothie, cake or pudding, try mixing the whole fruit in for less waste and exactly the same taste. Yum.

Got a strawberry tip of your own? We’d love to hear – share it using #OddIsGood and we’ll pass it onto our community. The more, the berrier.