Fresh raspberries are one of life's simple pleasures, but in the blink of an eye they can go bad once you get home.

One solution is a mix of vinegar and water that will clean fresh raspberries, making them ready for snacking, using in a recipe, or freezing.

Start by combining 3 cups of water with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar in a deep bowl. This 3:1 ratio can be increased if you plan on cleaning a large amount of berries.

Next, place the raspberries to be cleaned in a colander and dip them into the bowl with the solution. Gently agitate the berries and then lift them out of the bowl.

The key is to dip rather than soak the fruit. Gently rinse with cold water to remove any traces of vinegar, then place the berries on a paper towel and gently pat them dry.