60 Berry Desserts

With so many health benefits, berries may be one of the tastiest ways to eat well. But before heading to the store, keep these points in mind. The fresher the berries, the better they'll taste, so buy them locally grown or, if you get the chance, pick them yourself at a farm. And choose organically grown if possible, particularly raspberries and strawberries (59 percent of raspberries and 90 percent of strawberries have tested positive for pesticide residues in commercial samples). Once you get your berries home, don't wash them -- moisture on the surface encourages rot. Instead, pick out mushy or moldy berries, pat dry any moisture, and store them in a clean, dry container. Berries go bad quickly, so eat them within a day or two. If you can't, refrigeration will help them last longer, but berries taste best at room temperature. Rinse just before eating -- or serve them up for dessert using one of our recipes.