Strawberries are a delicious and nutritious fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or used in a variety of recipes. When purchasing strawberries, it is common to see them sold by the quart. This brings up the question – how many cups of fruit are in a quart of strawberries?
What is a Quart?
First, it is helpful to understand what a quart is. A quart is a unit of volume equal to 2 pints or 4 cups. One quart is equivalent to 0.946 liters or 32 fluid ounces. In the United States, a quart is commonly used as a unit of measurement when purchasing foods like milk, juice, and berries.
How Many Strawberries are in a Quart?
When purchased fresh, a quart of strawberries may contain about 30-40 medium sized strawberries. However, the exact number can vary depending on the size of each berry. Strawberries will reduce in volume as they are cleaned, hulled and sliced. So while you may start with 30-40 berries whole, you’ll end up with fewer cups of sliced fruit.
How Many Cups of Sliced Strawberries in a Quart?
On average, 1 quart of fresh strawberries equals about 3 to 4 cups of sliced fruit without any inedible parts like caps and stems. This sliced fruit is what ends up getting used in most recipes or eaten fresh in a bowl.
Here is a more detailed breakdown:
- 1 quart of small strawberries = about 3 cups sliced
- 1 quart of medium strawberries = 3 to 3 1/2 cups sliced
- 1 quart of large strawberries = about 4 cups sliced
The range accounts for natural variability in strawberry size. Keep in mind that overripe berries may break down more than firm, fresh berries when sliced and release more juices, reducing the final sliced cup volume.
How Many Cups of Strawberry Halves or Quarters?
When strawberries are sliced into halves or quarters rather than standard slices, they will take up more volume. Here is how a quart translates to cups when strawberries are halved or quartered before measuring:
- 1 quart strawberries, halved = about 4 to 5 cups
- 1 quart strawberries, quartered = 5 to 6 cups
The smaller the pieces, the more cups you will end up with from your starting quart.
How Many Cups are in a Quart of Strawberry Puree?
When strawberries are pureed or blended into a smooth pulp, you will get even more cups per quart than sliced fruit. Here is the typical yield when pureeing a quart of strawberries:
- 1 quart small strawberries, pureed = about 4 cups
- 1 quart medium strawberries, pureed = 4 to 5 cups
- 1 quart large strawberries, pureed = around 5 cups
Pureeing allows you to capture all the fruit flesh and juices for increased volume.
Cupped and Chopped Strawberries
When strawberries are finely chopped or cupped (sliced lengthwise into 1/4” to 1/2” pieces), you can expect about 4 to 5 cups per quart on average. The tiny pieces take up slightly more space than standard slices.
Mashed Strawberries
Mashing strawberries with a fork or potato masher will give you a chunky pulp rather than a smooth puree. From one quart of mashed strawberries, you can expect around 4 1/2 to 5 cups.
Frozen and Thawed Strawberries
Because frozen strawberries have already been sliced and packed, thawed frozen strawberries in juice will yield about 3 1/2 to 4 cups per quart. If thawed without their juice, this decreases to around 3 to 3 1/2 cups per quart. The freezing process can break down the berries slightly, decreasing their volume once thawed.
Canned Strawberries
Canned strawberry pieces or slices, drained from their syrup, will give around 3 to 3 1/2 cups per quart. Like frozen varieties, processing and canning reduces volume slightly compared to fresh.
Dried Strawberries
Due to their concentrated sugars and reduced water content, dried strawberries take up much less space than fresh or even frozen. To reconstitute dried strawberries, cover with boiling water and let sit for 10 minutes. One quart of dried strawberries equals about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups reconstituted.
Strawberry Nutrition Information
Beyond volume, it can be helpful to know the nutrition information for a typical quart of strawberries:
| Nutrient | 1 Quart Strawberries | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 161 | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 39 g | 13% |
| Fiber | 12 g | 43% |
| Vitamin C | 218 mg | 363% |
| Manganese | 1.2 mg | 61% |
*Based on a 2000 calorie diet
As the data shows, strawberries are packed with vitamin C, fiber, and disease-fighting antioxidants. Though low in calories, they deliver essential nutrients and make a healthy addition to any diet.
Tips for Getting a Quart of Strawberries
Here are some tips for buying and storing fresh strawberries by the quart:
- Look for bright red, firm berries without white or green tips
- Avoid mushy, leaking, or moldy berries
- Buy from a reputable grower for best flavor
- Choose berries free of bruises and damage
- Keep refrigerated and eat within 3-5 days for best quality
- Wash just before eating or using in recipes
- Slice off caps and stems before slicing fruit
- Freeze sliced berries in a single layer on a sheet pan before transferring to bags
- Puree or blend before freezing for smoothies or sauces
Quart of Strawberries Equivalents
When shopping, it can also be helpful to know some equivalents to a quart of fresh strawberries:
- 1 pint strawberries = about 1 1/2 to 2 cups sliced
- 1 pound strawberries = about 2 1/2 to 3 cups sliced
- 1 (16 oz) container strawberries = around 2 to 2 1/2 cups sliced
- 10 ounces frozen strawberries = about 2 cups
- 10 ounces canned strawberries = 1 1/2 to 2 cups drained
Ways to Enjoy a Quart of Strawberries
A quart of fresh strawberries can be used in a multitude of sweet and savory recipes. Here are just a few delicious ways to enjoy this volume of fresh, ripe berries:
- Strawberry shortcake or pie
- Pancakes or waffles topped with sliced berries
- Strawberry salsa with chips
- Fruit salad with balsamic vinegar
- Smoothies or strawberry lemonade
- Strawberry jam, freezer jam, or preserves
- Macerated strawberries over ice cream or yogurt
- Strawberry sauce for ice cream
- French toast or crepes with strawberry topping
- Topping for cheesecake or angel food cake
Conclusion
To summarize, one quart of fresh strawberries generally yields about 3 to 4 cups of sliced fruit or 4 to 5 cups pureed. Actual cup measurements may vary based on strawberry size, preparation method, and whether you are working with fresh, frozen, or dried berries. When buying strawberries, look for signs of freshness and use within a few days for ideal flavor and texture. With their many nutrients and versatile uses, strawberries are a healthy, delicious choice.
