Does anyone else have this problem:

I buy strawberries/raspberries and within 24 hours there is mold/fungus growing on them. I rinse them twice a day to try to prevent it but it doesnt help. My apartment is clean, but I do keep my windows open most of the time. Maybe that has something to do w/it?

This may seem like a stupid problem, but it is vexing me and wasting my money.

Never had this problem in the US so Im rather confused...

Your strawberries go moldy because they are likely close to organically grown i.e. without any genetic modification or other wacky stuff. Fruit should go moldy - that means it's natural. That being said, different fruits decay at different rates and berries rot particularly quickly. So of course it's best to get them as soon after they're picked as possible. They should be stored in your fridge, well-ventilated (in a colander works well) and unwashed. Only wash them right before you want to eat them. Also, freezing berries is a great way to keep them longer. Some methods include sugaring them first, but just tossing them into ziploc bags and then into the freezer works fine too.

I agree about moisture. The drier the better. I put my berries in a large sealed plastic container and I layer them liberally with paper towels. Put the container in the bottom shelf of the fridge, the least cold. As you use them up, choose the ripest and throw away any too moldy as they contaminate any others touching them. NEVER rinse until ready to eat.

so basically i was contributing to the untimely death of my berries w/all the rinsing.....

thanks for the info guys!

When living alone, I've always ended up with quite a bit of spoilage. For berries, bananas, pineapple, and grapes, at the first sign of spoilage I separate what I can salvage, maybe even cut off bad spots from berries or pineapples, and freeze what's left.

Get a box of Ziploc bags and when your fruit starts to spoil, cut everything down and freeze it so it's ready to eat. Bite sized fruit makes for a great snack. Add it to oatmeal or pancakes in the morning. You can make some amazing smoothies with it too. I have a bullet blender and mix up some frozen bananas and strawberries with some Chilsung Cider. It's fantastic.

This is great for bananas, which always spoil quickly. When they begin to blacken, peel them and chop into bite sized pieces. Place them in a Ziploc bag and freeze them. They'll keep for months.

I had the same problem with the strawberries I bought here. They'd spoil quickly. I think it's something about the type of strawberry they use here too. It's different a different variety than what they use in Canada or the US. Our berries require a shorter growing season and are more resilient to insects and spoilage. I think that Korean berries are greenouse grown and they're not shipped as far, so they can use a sweeter, less resilient berry.

When I get my fresh berries, I wash them before eating. I usually eat what I feel like eating, then set aside a bowl for the next day or so. The rest I let dry before freezing. It makes a big difference when you're handling the fruit later. Slice the big ones down so you're not snapping off teeth into frozen fruit.

Hope this helps.

Eat up asap...

4 bananas each time, bid or tid, they would never get a chance to grow mold...