It takes more than the removal of greenery to prepare strawberries for stuffing, shortcake, dessert toppings and more. They have a sturdy stem base and an interior hull, and these parts should be removed. After all, no one wants to eat the core of an apple, and strawberries hulls can be just as undesirable. Although the centers are soft, they are not tasty parts of the fruit. The hulls must be removed before stuffing, and you can do it without buying a special tool. Forget about buying expensive hulling gadgets. Check your kitchen drawers for one of the following three makeshift tools. Each one works surprisingly well. You will have all of your fresh berries cleaned and ready to use and enjoy in a matter of minutes, and none of the best parts will go to waste.
Hull Fresh Strawberries with a Sturdy Straw
One of the easiest ways to hull fresh strawberries is with a sturdy straw. A straw is just the right size. If it is somewhat strong and just a little bit sharp on the end, it will cut through the fruit like butter. Wash the berries before beginning. Position the straw on the bottom center of the berry. Carefully push the straw straight in and out through the top. The straw will remove the hull, the stem base and the attached foliage. Pull out the strawberry plugs, and continue the process until finished. Rinse the berries again before serving or preparing them further.
Use a Metal Pastry Tip
If you do not have a sturdy straw on hand, look for a metal pastry tip. Some cookie presses include a metal tip for creating frosted designs, and they work very well to hull fresh strawberries. Wash the berries, and twist the pointed tip around and into the stem base. You will pull out the foliage, the stem base and the attached hull. If necessary, use a toothpick to push it out of the pastry tip. Continue on until all of the berries are ready to eat or prepare. If necessary, rinse them again to remove any fragments of the hulls or foliage.
Try an Orange Peeling Tool
A plastic orange peeling tool also works very well to hull fresh strawberries. The sharp tip is just the right size for reaming them from the stem base to the hull. Use it to carefully cut around the stem base and greenery. Scoop it out along with the attached hull. An orange peeling tool is much safer to use than a pointed knife, and it will work just as quickly and easily as any other implement for hulling fresh strawberries.
Source: Food Preparation Experience and Experimentation
