I Tested Nearly a Dozen Berry Containers — These Are the Best Ones for Making Your Produce Last

updated Apr 23, 2024
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Credit: Samantha Bolton

Fresh berries are a grocery list staple in my household. We keep berries of all kinds in our kitchen year-round — they’re great in smoothies and as yogurt toppers. I also regularly toss a handful into salads for a burst of sweetness. I eat a ton of berries, but they can go bad fairly quickly — especially if they’re not stored correctly.

We’ve tested several methods for storing fresh berries in the refrigerator, and discovered that a salad spinner lined with a paper towel was key for vibrantly fresh berries all week long. The combination of moderate airflow and optimal drying opportunity is what makes this the most successful method. But if you don’t have a salad spinner, or want to keep it free for — you know — salads, there’s another solution: berry containers.

Credit: Rochelle Bilow

How I Tested the Berry Containers

Berry containers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. Typically, they have one thing in common: a removable aerated insert that allows for optimal airflow. Which berry bins are worth your money? What’s the best one to actually keep berries fresh? These are the questions that keep me up at night, so I bought a bushel’s worth of berry bins (read: a lot!) and tested each for ease of use, design, and performance. I used them to store blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and (notoriously squishable) raspberries.

I checked on things every morning for more than a week. I looked to see how many in each container were getting mushy, turning brown, or starting to spoil. (I made jam with those guys!) The takeaway? Every berry container I tested kept the berries noticeably fresher for longer. But three stood out in terms of design, price, and efficiency, so I’ll only be using all three of these berry containers from now on.

Credit: Rochelle Bilow

The Best Large Berry Container: The Home Edit Berry Bin

The Home Edit consistently wins gold stars from Kitchn editors, and for good reason: They’re experts at all things organization and efficient storage. These plastic berry bins are no exception. They come in both small and large sizes, but I found that even the “small” held a week’s worth of berries.

The insert has handles, which makes it easy to remove (and rinse the berries). The small notch in the lid lets you tightly cover the container while still allowing for airflow. If you eat berries every day, you’ll appreciate the luxe storage space these bins provide. After scanning the user reviews, I realized the majority of negative feedback was about maintenance: These berry bins are not dishwasher-safe. But when washed — or just rinsed out — by hand, they’re really hard to beat. 

Credit: Rochelle Bilow

The Best-Looking Berry Container: Chef’n Bramble Berry Basket

This sweet berry basket is reasonably priced, and it’s one of the cutest storage containers I’ve ever seen. The bright red insert gives off farmhouse vibes, and the clear plastic lid locks on tightly. It can hold a pound of berries, and boasts a 4.5-star rating (out of 5) from users.

There are no bells and whistles to this design; it’s made to mimic a traditional molded pulp container. I’m planning on bringing these with me to the farmers market when berry season gets rocking; I’ll ask the vendors to transfer the fruit from their containers right into mine. They’ll be just as useful at home, too. During testing, I found myself reaching for this container most often simply because of the gorgeous aesthetic.

Credit: Rochelle Bilow

The Best Overall Berry Container: Prepworks Berry ProKeeper

Some of the berry bins I tested were a little too high-tech. There were so many settings for airflow and venting that I felt overwhelmed and confused. But the Prepworks ProKeeper has just the right amount of customizations. A helpful guide on the lid explains the best way to store a variety of produce — berries of course, but also herbs, mushrooms, and peas. By adding a couple tablespoons of water in the bottom container and/or venting the lid, you’ll create an ideal environment for whatever you’re storing. (Berries get no water, and a locked lid).

The 1.2-quart capacity is efficient and large, and the tight seal means I can transport berries from my kitchen to my coffee shop workspace without fear of spillage. I love this pick so much, I’m planning on getting a few more so that I can use them with veggies. 

How do you store your berries? Tell us in the comments below.