i dried about oh, ten pounds of strawberries two weeks ago, and thanks to seeing this video, i dried the tops/leaves too! i used all the tops to add to my decalf tea, and went through them QUICK!! now i am thinking about powdering the dry strawberries to make tea, it was all so delicious!! i also grabbed a bunch of my dry orange, lemon, and lime slices for tea too!! thanks for reminding me!!
I have the Cosorsi dehydrator and I’ve noticed that whatever the books say for time it takes about twice that long. It does sit in the family room which is the hottest part of the house
Strawberry tops are good for you, high in vitamin c also have calcium and iron. They also are good for soothing your stomach, nausea and easing cramps. So keep some on hand to make a nice tea.
It's still fun to watch others do things like this, even if you have any number of ways of your own. It's like company in the kitchen. I ferment my tops and dehydrate them on the lowest setting, to keep the ferment alive. I grind them to powder. I keep a shaker of assorted ferment powder mix on my table and use it like I would salt. There's no taste or smell for most things, because it doesn't rehydrate until it's well past taste buds. Healthy fermented food, anyone can eat.
I love your channel and all of your wonderful ideas. I didn't know you could eat the tops of the strawberries. I also appreciate the tip about feeding the tops to the rabbits. Feeding our animals is so expensive, so I am always looking for ways to save on their feed. Thank you!
I dehydrate the tops and store them with my dehydrated kale. I am going to make a powder out of them soon. This video was perfect for me today. I sliced up 4 pounds of strawberries this morning. I did not know that there was a mushroom slicer, it's now in my amazon cart! I do not condition them though, I eat them faster than fresh strawberries. :)
Wonderful ideas! I saw a video where they made lemon vinegar, but never thought about doing it with strawberries. Love the other ideas, too. Thanks! ❤️
Once again thank you Darcy❤ You have very good ways to preserve food waste and convert it in valuable products. I will try with my strawberries. Enjoy your weekend ❤
I just sliced up strawberries this morning on a cutting board exactly like yours lol! I put the leaves in the compost. Thought about making vinegar but I tossed them. I’m headed to the store for more strawberries to make strawberry lemonade, so I’ll use the tops this time. Costco has some beautiful huge strawberries! I just did this with lemon rinds. It makes a great cleaner!
I don't have a cookbook. But the Dehydrating Basics & Journal does have information on how to dehydrate strawberries and other foods. thepurposefulpantry.com
Thank you so much for sharing.😊 I’m so glad to know there’s something to do with the strawberry tops I cut the strawberries so close to the greens because I’m afraid to waste and now I don’t have to be as cautious about that, knowing that there’s things I can do with it
I love these ideas! I actually just finished eating up strawberries the other day and saved the tops to compost. Didn't know the green parts were edible! Id like to try that syrup.I had dehydrated a batch of frozen strawberries before and I guess that's something I won't repeat- what a sticky mess! Maybe I'll just do fresh fruit next time!
I bought some strawberries a few weeks back that were horrible an had no flavor so I sliced them up an put them on a very low heat on a sheet pan in the oven after about 6 hrs they were so yummy. Ate the rest of them they sweetened up with their own sugars....
Just made a bunch of fermented hot sauce from my garden with Jalapenos, roasted poblano and smoked paprika peppers, along with garlic and onions. After straining into bottles I dehydrated the leftover "gunk" lol, and now I have a very flavorful seasoning. I've only had my cosorsi for about 2 weeks but I'm loving it and all your vids. My only problem has been using it in my garage in Houston with high humidity so it takes a long long long time to dehydrate.
Thank you for sharing this. Its strawberry season where I live so I'm happy to hear about using the strawberry tops. I'm sure strawberries are expensive again this year so waste not want not. And, yes to dried strawberries, cherries, blueberries and peaches for oatmeal. I don't have room in the freezer for storing a lot. I'm looking forward to the zucchini video. I'm going to try the strawberry tea as well. I usually do peach so it will be a nice change. You are always so helpful. 🍓🍑🍒🍍🍐
😮. I made the strawberry infused vinegar but I so wish I’d seen the simple syrup first, lol. I would definitely use that in my homemade yogurt. Probably faster than I’ll use the vinegar. Oh well, next time! 😉
They were together in the same video ;) The vinegar is great for salad dressings, and cooking vs the sweet syrup for drinking, etc. I gave a few recipes in the blog post linked in the description box.
great ideas! I had thought about dehydrating strawberry tops to grind up and add to tea this winter. Have you ever tried to make strawberry scrap vinegar (like apple cider vinegar)? I like the shrub idea, but am curious if you could make vinegar out of the scraps. I think some people to make peach and pineapple scrap vinegar.
Oh Darcy, don't shoot me, I did my strawberries yesterday and oops, I threw all of my tops out. Oh well, a day late, but now I have a reason to buy more.
Hi Darcy! Such a great video! I love your videos , FB page and website! Just to make sure that I understood right. To store the DH strawberries, tou say that we should not vacuum seal at all, put a moisture absorber in instead? I was vacuum sealing them. But I used a moisture absorber in the jar I open all the time… I am confused a little. Thank you!
Hi Darcie! I was thinking of using the strawberry tops with balsamic vinegar. I assume it goes the same way. My question is, do I need to store this vinegar in the fridge now or is it shelf stable? I am planning to gift these to my daughters and they will want to know. Thanks for a great video! Also was wondering if they would freeze dry for powder, leaving the tops or should I remove them?
Great ideas! I have some old strawberries in my fridge that are more dried out than moldy. I've been wondering if they can still be used for something. Any ideas?
@ThePurposefulPantry I wouldn't necessarily want to eat them as is, because they aren't exactly fresh anymore (kind of like a head start drying out, but they might work okay in these applications.
What type & size of moisture absorbers do you use or recommend? I live in OK & it get hot & humid here. Thanks…I am learning so much from your videos 🙂
Darcy, Do you strain the strawberry tops out of the vinegar and put into another bottle? I am new to this. I tried the water and stirring daily on counter and it got moldy. This seems so much easier. Thanks
I wonder if I make strawberry infused apple cider vinegar if it will help with the awful taste of acv. I'm trying to take acv to help with my overall health and it is hard to choke it down in the morning even though it is diluted, 1 tablespoon in a glass of pineapple juice, it is hard to do.
I can't say since I haven't tried, but I know the regular vinegar is still somewhat 'tart' even after a few days, but not as much. Do a small experiment and see what you think!
Question ... Why are you even cutting the tops off? I've seen people do this but still don't understand why. I was taught how to "hull" them using a paring knife or hulling tool. This allows you to remove the leaves and that tough little piece just beneath it. No waste to worry about.
Using them to make vinegar is a good thing, but until literally, a few days ago, I have never, in 56 years, seen anyone cut the top off a strawberry like that. It is such a waste! You use the correct knife and take the greens and core out at the same time. Even in restaurants-my daddy was a chef.
See - I knew someone would complain. I said, specifically, that I wasn't worrying about trying to cut well because I would do extra things with them. You saw - if you watched - that I showed the correct way to do it with a huller (not everyone likes using knives) to keep it to the greens/core.
@@ThePurposefulPantry Oh it isn't? Is it electric? I have the old electric kind with the coils. But I have a ton of cast iron so I'm ready if an induction ever falls into my lap.
No offense, but I never have ended up with "tops," I utilize the entire berry by simply twisting the stem off. This is the first time I knew of doing it otherwise.
Yes, I also love strawberries, but unfortunately I can't afford them, the pension is too low. I have a little pot with a plant on the balcony of my rented apartment in the big city. Greetings from (east) Berlin.
How do you like to use your strawberry tops?
Get the tools I used in my Dehydrating Tools Amazon store: amzn.to/441twda
I dry the tops separately and add them to my green leaves for powder
i dried about oh, ten pounds of strawberries two weeks ago, and thanks to seeing this video, i dried the tops/leaves too! i used all the tops to add to my decalf tea, and went through them QUICK!! now i am thinking about powdering the dry strawberries to make tea, it was all so delicious!! i also grabbed a bunch of my dry orange, lemon, and lime slices for tea too!! thanks for reminding me!!
Darcy! I loved this video.......while I don't have rabbits......I'm still going to follow your dehydrating tips! I'll experiment too!
We only feed her the tops - the rest is for us!
I have the Cosorsi dehydrator and I’ve noticed that whatever the books say for time it takes about twice that long. It does sit in the family room which is the hottest part of the house
Ignore the manual for everything except how to run the machine :D Times will never be what is realistic.
Thank you for making this subject very approachable to a newbie. Great video!
I dehydrate the tops too for my granddaughters rabbits! ❤️ The vinegar is new! ❤️❤️❤️thanks!
Strawberry tops are good for you, high in vitamin c also have calcium and iron. They also are good for soothing your stomach, nausea and easing cramps. So keep some on hand to make a nice tea.
Oh I’m making strawberry syrup for sure! 🍓🍓🍓😋
Thanks Marcy. 👍😊
It's still fun to watch others do things like this, even if you have any number of ways of your own. It's like company in the kitchen. I ferment my tops and dehydrate them on the lowest setting, to keep the ferment alive. I grind them to powder. I keep a shaker of assorted ferment powder mix on my table and use it like I would salt. There's no taste or smell for most things, because it doesn't rehydrate until it's well past taste buds. Healthy fermented food, anyone can eat.
I love your channel and all of your wonderful ideas. I didn't know you could eat the tops of the strawberries. I also appreciate the tip about feeding the tops to the rabbits. Feeding our animals is so expensive, so I am always looking for ways to save on their feed. Thank you!
I dehydrate the tops and store them with my dehydrated kale. I am going to make a powder out of them soon. This video was perfect for me today. I sliced up 4 pounds of strawberries this morning. I did not know that there was a mushroom slicer, it's now in my amazon cart! I do not condition them though, I eat them faster than fresh strawberries. :)
I was able to save a bunch of strawberry hulls and dried them to use as tea. It was very nice.
Interesting! I want to try the strawberry vinegar
Wonderful ideas! I saw a video where they made lemon vinegar, but never thought about doing it with strawberries. Love the other ideas, too. Thanks! ❤️
Thanks. I learn so much from you!
Once again thank you Darcy❤ You have very good ways to preserve food waste and convert it in valuable products. I will try with my strawberries. Enjoy your weekend ❤
You, too!
I just sliced up strawberries this morning on a cutting board exactly like yours lol! I put the leaves in the compost. Thought about making vinegar but I tossed them. I’m headed to the store for more strawberries to make strawberry lemonade, so I’ll use the tops this time. Costco has some beautiful huge strawberries! I just did this with lemon rinds. It makes a great cleaner!
OH MY!!! I love this! Love that syrup! Definitely dehydrating my strawberries 🍓!
Gonna go pick whatever is ripe out of my strawberry patch’s
Great tips!! Thanks so much!
I ❤️ the simple syrup idea!!
My kitties love the leaves so I have to share with them.
Yay 🎉 more great ideas! Are all these tips in your cookbook?
I don't have a cookbook. But the Dehydrating Basics & Journal does have information on how to dehydrate strawberries and other foods.
thepurposefulpantry.com
I really appreciate you and the content you share on your channel. Thank you! 😊
So nice of you! Thanks!
These are all such great ideas 💞
Hope you give them a try!
The links for this popped up in my Facebook feed today. Justwhen I have strawberries that I want to do something with the tops.
You’re the best!! Thank you 🙏
Thank you so much for sharing.😊 I’m so glad to know there’s something to do with the strawberry tops I cut the strawberries so close to the greens because I’m afraid to waste and now I don’t have to be as cautious about that, knowing that there’s things I can do with it
You are so welcome!
Great ideas!
I just love all your tips and tricks! You're so nice and smart and wonderful to share them. Thank you!
Glad you like them!
I love these ideas! I actually just finished eating up strawberries the other day and saved the tops to compost. Didn't know the green parts were edible! Id like to try that syrup.I had dehydrated a batch of frozen strawberries before and I guess that's something I won't repeat- what a sticky mess! Maybe I'll just do fresh fruit next time!
I bought some strawberries a few weeks back that were horrible an had no flavor so I sliced them up an put them on a very low heat on a sheet pan in the oven after about 6 hrs they were so yummy. Ate the rest of them they sweetened up with their own sugars....
Just made a bunch of fermented hot sauce from my garden with Jalapenos, roasted poblano and smoked paprika peppers, along with garlic and onions. After straining into bottles I dehydrated the leftover "gunk" lol, and now I have a very flavorful seasoning. I've only had my cosorsi for about 2 weeks but I'm loving it and all your vids. My only problem has been using it in my garage in Houston with high humidity so it takes a long long long time to dehydrate.
Yep! It's the way of us in the south!
Great idea.
Now, for our next trick🤣👍 Love it!!!
I planted all of mine.
Thank you
Love it . Thank you
Thank you for sharing this. Its strawberry season where I live so I'm happy to hear about using the strawberry tops. I'm sure strawberries are expensive again this year so waste not want not. And, yes to dried strawberries, cherries, blueberries and peaches for oatmeal. I don't have room in the freezer for storing a lot.
I'm looking forward to the zucchini video.
I'm going to try the strawberry tea as well. I usually do peach so it will be a nice change.
You are always so helpful. 🍓🍑🍒🍍🍐
strawberries yum. I would have never thought of making strawberry infused vinegar.
i love this video above all the others i have been able to watch .. you show how to more things out of everything .. i just love it .. thank you
You are so welcome!
😮. I made the strawberry infused vinegar but I so wish I’d seen the simple syrup first, lol. I would definitely use that in my homemade yogurt. Probably faster than I’ll use the vinegar. Oh well, next time! 😉
They were together in the same video ;) The vinegar is great for salad dressings, and cooking vs the sweet syrup for drinking, etc. I gave a few recipes in the blog post linked in the description box.
This was such a helpful video! Thank you!
Great explanations. Thank you!
great ideas! I had thought about dehydrating strawberry tops to grind up and add to tea this winter. Have you ever tried to make strawberry scrap vinegar (like apple cider vinegar)? I like the shrub idea, but am curious if you could make vinegar out of the scraps. I think some people to make peach and pineapple scrap vinegar.
No - this was the first time I was doing anything with vinegar and fruit, so I chose the easiest way first to see if we'd really use it later or not.
I bet the strawberry simple syrup would be awesome with my dehydrated or fresh spearmint tea. Yum. I wonder if I could use splenda instead of sugar?
I don't use it so I'm not sure how it works, but if it can replace sugar in baking 1:1, give it a try.
I usually give the tops to our chickens, they really love them. Then I made the mistake of going into the run with red toenail polish and sandals on.
LOL - yeah - I bet that was fun! :D
@@ThePurposefulPantry …..my husband thought it was very funny, as normally I can’t jump.
Loved your ideas😊😊😊
Thank you! 😊
I have a hand held strawberry slicer I use that I ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh Darcy, don't shoot me, I did my strawberries yesterday and oops, I threw all of my tops out. Oh well, a day late, but now I have a reason to buy more.
Hi Darcy! Such a great video! I love your videos , FB page and website! Just to make sure that I understood right. To store the DH strawberries, tou say that we should not vacuum seal at all, put a moisture absorber in instead? I was vacuum sealing them. But I used a moisture absorber in the jar I open all the time… I am confused a little. Thank you!
Moisture absorbers are best. You can vacuum seal, but moisture absorbers work best for fruit.
My daughter was telling me about the nutrition on the tops....I was like whaaaaaa?????
I used my tops and made strawberry syrup!
And what did you think?
@@ThePurposefulPantry it turned out awesome! I never knew there was so much flavor in the tops. I always gave them to my chickens.
😊
I dont even cut the tops lol i twist off the green and move on to slice for dehydrating
I always run a straw from the bottom to the top to get the greens off
I used to, and I just prefer the huller method instead. It's just easier if I'm trying to do nothing but get the greens.
Hi Darcie! I was thinking of using the strawberry tops with balsamic vinegar. I assume it goes the same way. My question is, do I need to store this vinegar in the fridge now or is it shelf stable? I am planning to gift these to my daughters and they will want to know. Thanks for a great video! Also was wondering if they would freeze dry for powder, leaving the tops or should I remove them?
Rerigerate
@@ThePurposefulPantry thank you!
Great ideas! I have some old strawberries in my fridge that are more dried out than moldy. I've been wondering if they can still be used for something. Any ideas?
Would you eat them? Then you can do this.
@ThePurposefulPantry I wouldn't necessarily want to eat them as is, because they aren't exactly fresh anymore (kind of like a head start drying out, but they might work okay in these applications.
Strawberry infused vodka. Sail awayto Heaven😅 then lay back on the sofa ❤
What type & size of moisture absorbers do you use or recommend? I live in OK & it get hot & humid here.
Thanks…I am learning so much from your videos 🙂
I just use 5 grams because it covers everything. I use the grand Dry and Dry and I have it in my Amazon store: amzn.to/3NCPspO
Darcy, Do you strain the strawberry tops out of the vinegar and put into another bottle? I am new to this. I tried the water and stirring daily on counter and it got moldy. This seems so much easier. Thanks
DOn't leave it on the counter - put it in the fridge, and no I don't strain.
Have you tried making the syrup with a sugar substitute like stevia or Erythritol?
No - we don't use them.
I just throw them in my smoothie
Thanks Darcy o needs to listen this 7:42 morning. I have a3 e inch you braim and y surgery is Friday.
Aww, Gina, I'll be praying for you!!! Hope it all goes well!
I never cut the tops off, I simply remove the green bit.
I wonder if I make strawberry infused apple cider vinegar if it will help with the awful taste of acv. I'm trying to take acv to help with my overall health and it is hard to choke it down in the morning even though it is diluted, 1 tablespoon in a glass of pineapple juice, it is hard to do.
I can't say since I haven't tried, but I know the regular vinegar is still somewhat 'tart' even after a few days, but not as much. Do a small experiment and see what you think!
if you had a hot sterilized jar with the canning lids and flipped that syrup upside down, would it seal like jelly and jam would?
no, and that is also no longer an approved method for jams/jellies.
@@ThePurposefulPantry thank you!
In your strawberry syrup can I use 1/2 cup of sugar? I don't want it to be too sweet.
It would no longer be considered a simple syrup, but yes, you can.
I cap them and use the whole strawberry I never cut just the tops that waste half the strawberry to me
Question ... Why are you even cutting the tops off? I've seen people do this but still don't understand why. I was taught how to "hull" them using a paring knife or hulling tool. This allows you to remove the leaves and that tough little piece just beneath it. No waste to worry about.
Where did you get that wooden spoon spatula thing
Amazon - it's a 'spurtle'. I'm sure you can get them from most places that have any kind of kitchen supplies.
Can you make the syrup with honey instead?
Yes, but you need more honey (2.5 to 1) in the ratio than what a simple syrup is (1:1) Google for directions.
Plz what material are you using to cover the dehydrator trays
Dehydrating mesh sheets. amzn.to/3CX3FI1 (my amazon affiliate link)
💙
I just purchased a slushie machine, and was wondering if I could use the strawberry syrup recipe in my slushie machine. Please reply
It's syrup, of course you can. You need to thicken it up by using more sugar or simmering it for awhile.
@@ThePurposefulPantry thank you
I’ve been looking for those lids. The one pice ball lids. Please share we’re you bought them
Amazon - they aren't Ball, and they aren't perfect for airtight long-term storage, but fine for short-term.
Thank you. But I would have more than one glass of tea a day😅
how do i store baking soda salt and flour for long term use
Airtight containers.
I would never cut off more than the stem.
You may not, but there are 1000's who do, and I'm teaching them what to do with it so it's not wasted.
My grandma dried her stuff out side on a white sheet in the sun
Lots of folks have done - I prefer not to have all the bug guts and poop and eggs ;) And in my area, it's too humid to do.
Using them to make vinegar is a good thing, but until literally, a few days ago, I have never, in 56 years, seen anyone cut the top off a strawberry like that. It is such a waste! You use the correct knife and take the greens and core out at the same time. Even in restaurants-my daddy was a chef.
See - I knew someone would complain. I said, specifically, that I wasn't worrying about trying to cut well because I would do extra things with them. You saw - if you watched - that I showed the correct way to do it with a huller (not everyone likes using knives) to keep it to the greens/core.
Extra strawberry flavor.
I've been throwing mine away 😢
Well, now you know there may be options for you next time!
I'm very jealously watching your spilled sugar sit beside your pot and not burn. My kingdom for an induction stovetop!
It's not induction, but I'd love to have one, too!
@@ThePurposefulPantry Oh it isn't? Is it electric? I have the old electric kind with the coils. But I have a ton of cast iron so I'm ready if an induction ever falls into my lap.
It's just an electric glasstop stove - but not induction.
No offense, but I never have ended up with "tops," I utilize the entire berry by simply twisting the stem off. This is the first time I knew of doing it otherwise.
You end up with greens, which I did suggest to use ;)
Sorry? Make shrubs?
Mixtures for cocktails.
@@ThePurposefulPantry Ohhhhh, thank you.
Yes, I also love strawberries, but unfortunately I can't afford them, the pension is too low. I have a little pot with a plant on the balcony of my rented apartment in the big city. Greetings from (east) Berlin.
As you get a few strawberries at a time, you can freeze the tops and collect to create more things!
Can you grow some strawberries on your balcony? Maybe that would be useful
Great ideas!
Glad you think so!