Strawberries should always be washed before eating, but only directly before. This is because unwashed fruits last longer and can therefore be stored better.
Never clean under a strong stream of water. Infested fruits in the later stages would have injuries, release juice and smell of vinegar and would thus be recognizable. These are inedible. The consumption of freshly infested fruit is harmless, reports the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg.