Raspberries are one of the most popular summer berries and typically start to fruit from early to late . So with the prime fruiting season now underway, there should be plenty of availability on shelves - or in your garden if you - over the coming weeks. However, if you don't store them properly at home, they won't last very long.

are picked at the peak of their ripeness, which means they have a frustratingly short shelf life. They will only last for a couple of days before they start to turn mushy and mouldy, so they can often end up in the bin if you don't eat them in time.

But food experts say it's possible to extend the shelf life of raspberries simply by washing them in one ingredient because as it is acidic, it is effective at killing mould and bacteria spores that cause raspberries to spoil, thereby helping them to last a little longer.

Experts recommend soaking the berries in a diluted vinegar solution for around five minutes, and then rinsing them thoroughly afterwards with plain water to get rid of any lingering vinegar flavour.

After washing, the raspberries then need to be dried well with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture, otherwise the lingering water can lead to mould growth.

Your washed and dried raspberries should then be stored in the fridge to help preserve their freshness, but avoid putting them in an airtight container as this can trap moisture and cause them to spoil more quickly.

Sophie Trueman, UK Country Director at , the world's largest marketplace for surplus food, says: "Vinegar wash your raspberries. Raspberries are very delicate, so if we don't want to eat them all at once, take these tips into account to make them last longer.

"Wash the raspberries under cold water and soak them in a water/white vinegar solution. You'll need one part of white vinegar and eight parts of cool water. After drying them well, store them under a paper towel in an airtight container so the paper will keep the excess of water.

"Store berries in the fridge as soon as possible. Keep them in a breathable container lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Remember not to store them in the back of your fridge, as they might develop mould due to the humidity."

Farming company Driscoll's adds: "Store dry raspberries in their original clamshell container, not in an airtight container. The original container is designed with slots and holes to allow for air flow, helping to keep your berries fresher longer.

"Keep them front and centre in your refrigerator where they'll be visible and easy to reach. This way, you'll use them before they have a chance to go bad.

"Do not store raspberries in the back of the refrigerator or in the crisper. The air in the crisper may be slightly more humid than it is in the rest of the refrigerator and can cause your raspberries to dry out quicker."