Where can I buy strawberries from which you can easily remove the stalks?

Chomeur

When I was in Australia some years ago I remember you could just pull the stem of a strawberry out by the leaves. It was great. I can't ever do this in the UK - the leaves just come off. Do any supermarkets in the UK stock the superior Australian version?

DullGreyGuy

Most UK supermarkets buy strawberries that are more robust to make sure they still look perfect in the plastic box after being shipped from farm to packing to distribution centre to store etc (one supermarket allegedly used to even ship them overseas for cheaper packing costs). This probably then contributes to their toughness in pulling the stalk off. 

Waitrose used to do some speciality ones that you no doubt could pull the stalk off but when they were only down to a few boxes they were all fairly mushy looking (probably people like my mother shaking the box to inspect them). Don't have a convenient Waitrose anymore so don't know if they still do. Coop sometimes have some less turnip like strawberries but not sure they are that soft that you could pull them off.

Alternatively, use the stem/leaves like a lolipop handle or use a knife if for fruit salads etc. 

DigSunPap

I think this may be perhaps to the quality of the produce? Im not sure where we get our strawberries from here but I would presume that Australia has the better climate also to produce higher quality strawberries? Perhaps they were much fresher as well.

pumpkin89

I know the type you mean and have found them on rare occasions at farmers' markets etc., but they're not widely available in the UK.

The solution I've found is to invest in one of these - best kitchen gadget I've ever owned!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strawberry-Huller-Banana-Slicer-Homeelabador/dp/B01J6MWPGE/ref=asc_df_B01J6MWPGE/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=290121182861&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1958763115149765579&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-765968960629&th=1

Chomeur

Thanks. Maybe the supermarkets are restricted in terms of the varieties they can buy when the strawberries have to travel all the way from Spain. And I've a feeling that pick your own strawberries are better. But I'm never going to do that living in central London. It's a shame, because when they are good they are some of the best fruits there are. But finding good ones seems to be nigh on impossible. A bit like mangos - SO good in the tropics, not much good here - strawberries can be really good in sunny temperate places, but not here.

pumpkin, from the photos your gadget looks like it takes out a very large portion of the strawberry, much wider than the core?

DullGreyGuy

If you are in central London then PYO is off the table but there are plenty of markets selling much better varieties than the stock ones in the supermarkets, as long as you're willing to pay for them. 

Many things will be better where they natively grow because you can pick when ripe and only transport them a short distance. Something coming from the other side of the world is going to spend ages in a shipping container in the bowels of a ship before it arrives on our shores. 

The slightly oddity is that the UK seem a little more picky over the look of things and value price over quality hence even things we can grow here well then most things destined for the supermarkets will be a more robust verity that will arrive on the shelf looking perfect so less wastage and can be sold cheaper. 

DigSunPap

Chomeur said:

Thanks. Maybe the supermarkets are restricted in terms of the varieties they can buy when the strawberries have to travel all the way from Spain. And I've a feeling that pick your own strawberries are better. But I'm never going to do that living in central London. It's a shame, because when they are good they are some of the best fruits there are. But finding good ones seems to be nigh on impossible. A bit like mangos - SO good in the tropics, not much good here - strawberries can be really good in sunny temperate places, but not here.

pumpkin, from the photos your gadget looks like it takes out a very large portion of the strawberry, much wider than the core?

Exactly that. I don't think that we have the optimal climate for growing strawberries. For sure not not in central London!

pumpkin89

Chomeur said:

pumpkin, from the photos your gadget looks like it takes out a very large portion of the strawberry, much wider than the core?

The great thing about it is you control that - as you push the button down the claw widens, so you widen it as far as you want to go, push the teeth into the strawberry, twist and pull the core out.  Very easy once you get the knack.

I also find it invaluable for getting the eyes out of pineapples (if you cut close to the rind and then take the eyes out, you end up with so much more fruit than if you cut further in to avoid the eyes).

MrsStepford

Look for a strawberry huller. I bought mine in Canada, but Amazon has them 99p for metal, 3.99 for metal & plastic.

Pick Your Own Tibbs Farm near Rye. www.tibbsfarm.com  

Katiehound

Of course we have the weather for growing strawberries- you need to buy local because the crop is so fresh. I realise in London that is not the easiest option but fruit picked in the garden of England ie Kent should be pretty fresh.

Scottish ones have been tasty- but it depends so much on the variety.
 Certainly better to avoid the Spanish ones- I'm tempted to say 'fur coat & no knickers!'..... all look and no flavour in other words.

pumpkin89

I would have agreed about Spanish strawberries in the past, but this year there were some nice ones.  Most growers seem to have moved on from the infamous Elsanta variety and are producing tasty alternatives.

The idea of British strawberries being full of flavour is also being tested by the advent of heated polytunnels.  Yes, you can technically grow strawberries here all year round, but they won't taste like the outdoor summer ones!