Strawberry recipes for summer

WASHINGTON — Strawberry season heralds the coming of summer, and brings with it a repertoire of fresh recipes full of flavor.

Click through the gallery below for strawberry recipes to try this season.

**Strawberry shortcakes** If biscuits smothered in butter sound a bit too heavy for summer, try them topped with sweet, seasonal strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream. Here’s a KitchenWise recipe on the perfect biscuit-strawberry combination. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Snow pudding with spiked strawberries** A dessert that’s as magical as, well, snow, is made even better with the fruits of summer. Learn how to make the age old dessert . (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry pistachio torte** Decadence calls, with this dense pistachio-batter cake topped with fresh strawberries and chopped nuts. The recipe calls for a honey-yogurt mixture on the side. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry balsamic glazed pork tenderloin** Strawberries and balsamic come together in a sweet, slightly acidic zing that tops a finely glazed pork tenderloin to perfection. Here’s the recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry streusel pie** Melt in your mouth streusel followed by a pop of berry flavor is what this Food Network pie recipe is all about. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry banana chia breakfast smoothie** Just one tiny tablespoon of chia seeds can add tons of protein, fiber and iron to a strawberry banana smoothie already full of antioxidants. Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian’s recipe shares her healthy recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry Lime soft serve fruit** Cool down on a hot summer’s day with a guilt-free soft serve that takes just 5 minutes to make. The recipe calls for a dash of honey and splash of lime. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Shrimp with strawberry cocktail sauce** Instead of your usual ketchup-based cocktail sauce, go seasonal with strawberries as the base for a summertime appetizer. The recipe includes ginger and jalapeno for an extra kick. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Mini strawberry popovers** Top these delectably airy bites with fresh seasonal fruit and a drizzle of lemon glaze. Here’s Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian’s recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry-rhubarb pie** A classic pairing of strawberries and rhubarb can tone down an overly sweet pie filling. The Food Network shares its take on the seasonal favorite. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry-ricotta bruschetta** Serve up this quick dish as an appetizer, for breakfast or brunch. Drizzle with honey to play up the sweeter notes, or with balsamic for the savory. Try this recipe. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

A strawberry-apricot tarte tatin is seen in this photo taken Monday, March 19, 2012 in Concord, NH. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead) — **Strawberry-apricot tarte tatin** While the typical tarte tatin calls for apples, this strawberry-apricot version is perfect for summer. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

This April 11, 2011 photo shows strawberry-kiwi dessert pizza in Concord, N.H. The beauty of this dessert pizza is that it looks like it should be a diet buster, but it really isnt. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead) — **Strawberry-kiwi dessert pizza** Dessert pizzas are all the rage, but this fruit-topped version is relatively guilt free. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

**Strawberry ice cream** Perfect summer strawberries have the potential to transform into the best homemade strawberry ice cream you’ll ever make. Here’s how. (Thinkstock)

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Strawberry season

As one of the most cultivated berries in the United States, according to The Spruce, strawberries are grown in almost every state, but mostly in California and Florida. The growing seasons lasts from January through November, and peak season runs from April through June.

Choosing the best strawberries

When picking strawberries for consumption, select the ones that are brightly colored, firm, shiny and plump. Choose the berries that have the green caps attached, wrote Molly Watson on The Spruce. Since strawberries do not ripen after they’re picked, Watson said avoid berries that are partly white.

Storing the berries

Store strawberries in the refrigerator, preferably in a single layer on a paper towel, or in a moisture-proof container, Watson said. Wash the berries when you’re ready to use them, not before storing them. To freeze strawberries, hull them — removing the inedible green caps — place them on a baking sheet and pop them into the freezer until they’re solid, Watson said. Then, you can transfer them to a Ziploc bag or plastic container until they’re ready for use.

Health benefits

One cup of sliced fresh strawberries is around 50 calories, according to Medical News Today. The berries are rich in vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and fiber. They have been linked to heart health, lowering high blood pressure, reducing inflammation and promoting weight loss. Eating strawberries may help reduce complications from diabetes, such as kidney disease and neuropathy, as well as birth defects in pregnancies.