De-Stem Strawberries with a Straw

The Problem

Cutting strawberry stems with a knife wastes a lot of fruit and takes forever with a big batch.

The Hack

Insert a thick straw (or the end of a chopstick) into the bottom tip of the strawberry. Push straight through toward the stem. The stem, leaves, and core pop out the top.

Why It Works

The straw follows the natural core of the strawberry, removing just the white pithy center and stem in one clean push, leaving maximum usable fruit.

Pro Tips

• Thick plastic or metal straws work best — thin paper straws bend
• Great activity for kids helping in the kitchen
• Works on a full quart of strawberries in under 5 minutes
• Pat strawberries dry before storing — moisture speeds molding