Strawberries: buy sweet smelling strawberries that are red in color without any white or green spots. Strawberries are full of Vitamin C, potassium, sodium and iron as well as being low in calories. Interesting fact- Strawberries can be frozen up to 12 months whole or sliced, with or without sugar. Do not remove the stem of fruit while storing in the fridge. Before eating, rinse gently under cold running water.
Raspberries: Good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and fiber, raspberries are the most fragile of all the berries. So they have to be plucked gently. Buy firm dry raspberries avoid soft ones; they are high perishable and should be refrigerated if not eaten immediately. Gently rinse the raspberries under cold running water and dry them with paper towels before eating them.
Watermelons- Mostly water so they are low in calories. Excellent source of Vitamin C, potassium and high in pectin. To know whether the fruit is sweet, thump it with the knuckles and if you hear a hollow sound, then the fruit is going to taste sweet. Watermelon has a dark green skin and bright red colored flesh- uncut fruit should be stored in a cool place, while cut watermelon should always be tightly wrapped, refrigerated and used within a day or so.
Cherries: Dark cherries= high in nutritional value. Packed with enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Buy heavy firm cherries with bright color and fresh stem. They last for two days or so. Chilling not only preserves them, but also makes them more flavorful. Simply rinse cherries in cool water and drain on a paper towel until they are ready to be eaten.
Pineapples: Storehouse of minerals, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium and iron. They have loads of vitamin C and are an excellent source of bromelian, and enzyme that helps digestion. The best fruit to be eaten is the one with strong sweet aroma- the color of the fruit skin should be dark golden, leaves should be fresh and green with no brown or yellow tips. They ripen at room temperature- wrap in plastic and refrigerate it.
Peaches: They are a rich source of beta-carotene and potassium and contain moderate amounts of Vitamin C. Buy bright colored, firm peach with smooth skin and sweet aroma. They can ripen at room temperature. It’s ideal to refrigerate the ripe ones and eat within five days.