London - It is a beautifully simple combination of ingredients... but there’s more to creating the perfect bowl of strawberries and cream than you might think.
Scientists found that the ideal fruit-to-cream weight ratio is 70:30 – or one tablespoon of single cream for every two fresh medium-sized strawberries.
And for the perfect summer experience, they say the strawberries must be eaten within two minutes and 50 seconds. So those who don’t like to linger over their puddings now have the perfect excuse.
Any longer and the fruits soften and start shrinking at a rate of one percent every 30 seconds as the juices transfer into the cream, the scientists said. Although this colours the liquid and enhances its flavour, the study found that the strawberries started to become too soft.
Having fewer strawberries in the bowl – with a fruit-to-cream ratio of less than 60:40 – resulted in “sub-optimal sweetness and flavour intensity”. But a ratio of 80:20, with more fruit, produced an “overly tart” flavour.
Science writer Dr Stuart Farrimond, who carried out the study for supermarket Morrisons, said it was “surprising” that the berries shrink in cream rather than absorbing some of the liquid.
Morrisons strawberry buyer Emma Spencer said: “The three-minute rule is a really interesting theory and is a good way to make sure there’s no grumbles from guests when they’re having their summer treat.”
A chef in Henry VIII’s court is said to have been the first to mix strawberries, a “royal fruit”, with cream, a “peasant food”.
Daily Mail