How To Freeze Strawberries
Freezing strawberries is a simple and effective way to preserve their freshness and flavor all year long. Whether you have an abundance of a seasonal crop or took advantage of a seasonal sale at your local grocery store or farmers’ market, freezing allows you to have strawberries on hand for desserts, smoothies, and more. I’ll show you easy steps on How To Freeze Strawberries for year-round enjoyment.
I love strawberries, and right now, it is strawberry season. My daughter is in the FFA, and every year, she sells strawberries. I usually end up buying a whole flat of strawberries not only to support the FFA but to freeze them and enjoy them all year long.
As warm summer days fade, one way to hold on to the sweet summertime is to freeze strawberries. Follow these steps to freezing fresh strawberries like a pro, tips for selecting the best berries, and how to store your frozen berries for maximum freshness. Frozen strawberries provide convenience, as they can be easily stored and accessed whenever the need arises without having to make frequent trips to the grocery store.
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There is nothing like the fresh taste of strawberries, especially early in the season. The problem is that they don’t last very long. I try to preserve them so I can enjoy them throughout the year.
Why This Recipe Is Fabulous
Freezing strawberries isn’t just about preserving fruit; it’s about savoring memories long after the harvest season has passed. With frozen strawberries, you’ll be ready to create dishes effortlessly with sweet strawberries at your fingertips. You can freeze whole strawberries as well as sliced berries. Do some of both, especially during the strawberry picking season, to ensure your freezer is full of frozen fruit for future use.
Preserve Freshness: Freezing strawberries at their peak locks in their freshness and maintains their flavor.
Extend Shelf Life: By freezing strawberries, you extend their shelf life and can enjoy them long after the harvest season has ended.
Convenience: Having frozen berries allows you convenience all year long without going to the grocery store to get out-of-season berries.
Versatility: Frozen strawberries can be added to a wide range of recipes, including smoothies, desserts, jams, drinks, sauces for ice cream, and baked goods, adding a burst of fruity goodness to your dishes.
Year-Round Enjoyment: With frozen strawberries on hand, you can enjoy the taste of summer any time of the year.
When Are Strawberries In Season
Strawberry season can vary depending on your location and climate. Some Northern climates may have strawberries in late spring through early summer, while warmer climates may have strawberries as early as March. It’s always a good idea to check with local agricultural extension services or farmers’ markets for the times of the freshest berries and strawberry season in your area.
Where To Buy Fresh Strawberries
You can buy fresh strawberries in a variety of places depending on convenience and availability. Some common options are the grocery store, farmer’s market, pick-your-own farms, or roadside stands. Grocery stores carry fresh strawberries in their produce section. They typically offer several options, including farm-grown and organic strawberries. Farmer’s markets offer strawberries that are typically picked at peak ripeness. You might also visit a pick-your-own farm. This can be a fun activity for families, and you can harvest enough ripe strawberries to freeze for the winter. These farms allow you to pick enough berries to satisfy your needs, and the best way to fill your freezer with delicious berries for future recipes.
How To Select The Best Strawberries
Regardless of where you purchase your fresh strawberries, look for berries that are firm, plump, brightly colored, and have fresh green stems. Avoid any mushy, soft, or bruised berries. Whenever possible, opt for locally grown strawberries. They are often fresher since they don’t have to travel long distances and are full of flavor since they are picked at peak ripeness.
How Do I Use Frozen Strawberries?
Frozen strawberries are incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes. Frozen strawberries are great to use in smoothies, for making jam, strawberry cheesecake bars, strawberry pie filling, and strawberry cake. They are great on bagels for breakfast. Just add a spoonful of Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling to the top of your bagel, and you are all set.
Have you tried Strawberry Stuffed French Toast? This is definitely a way to take breakfast to an all-new level instead of using jam-use pie filling. Yes, pie filling for breakfast is delicious! It always gets a thumbs up with my family.
They are great in smoothies, baked desserts, sauces, jams, salads, and a topping for yogurt. These are just a few suggestions to get you started, but the possibilities are endless when experimenting with different recipes. Whether you are blending them in the morning for a strawberry smoothie or topping off a decadent dessert, your frozen strawberry stash is sure to add a burst of color, texture, and sweetness to any dish.
Freezing strawberries is easy, and by doing this in the spring, you can enjoy them all year long.
Ingredients Needed
Strawberries – This is the only ingredient needed for this recipe. Choose sweet berries that are ripe, plump, and free from any bruising or spots. They should have green stems.
How To Freeze Strawberries
By following these steps, you can freeze strawberries effectively, ensuring you will have berries on hand for all of your delightful dishes. The freezing process is quite simple and a great way to preserve those fresh berries. Make sure the berries are frozen in a single layer and not touching. This will allow you to use the desired amount in your dishes and not have to thaw a big clump of berries at one time.
Step one: Rinse and clean strawberries under cold water and place them on paper towels to drain. Blot them dry or allow them to air dry.
Step two: Using a paring knife, cut off the green tops of the strawberries. Some may use a strawberry huller, but a knife works just fine.
Step three: Prepare the pan. Use a parchment-lined baking sheet. Slice berries or leave them whole and place them in a single layer on the baking sheet. For best results, make sure your berries are not touching.
Step four: Place the pan in the freezer for at least an hour or longer until frozen.
Step five: Take the pan out of the freezer and place the whole berries and slices into zip-top plastic freezer bags or freezer containers. Try to remove as much air as possible from the bags. Label and place back into the freezer.
These will last in the freezer for at least 6 months (for the best flavor) or up to a year if they are not eaten before then. I have used them after being frozen for a year and they were still fine. They did develop a few ice crystals, but they worked fine in my favorite recipes, especially this strawberry cobbler.
Recipe Tips
These are tips and suggestions for freezing and storing frozen strawberries to help maintain their quality. These tips will ensure your berries stay fresh and flavorful for longer periods, ready to be enjoyed whenever you need them.
- Use a piece of parchment paper to line the pan for easy strawberry removal.
- Use airtight containers or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible from the bags.
- Label and date the containers to keep track of freshness.
- If you know ahead of time the amount you will use in recipes, measure out the cups, label them, and freeze them in separate bags.
- Avoid Refreezing Berries. Once you thaw a bag of berries, it is best to use it in recipes. Avoid refreezing, for this can affect the texture and taste.
Recipe FAQs
It is not necessary to sweeten the strawberries before freezing them. I usually wait to add sugar depending on the recipe I will be using them in later.
Frozen strawberries will usually last 6-12 months in the freezer if stored properly in airtight freezer containers or freezer bags.
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries in recipes that call for fresh strawberries. Keep in mind that frozen berries may release a bit of liquid once thawed, so you may need to adjust the recipe a bit for moisture.
This depends on the recipe you are using. If you are making smoothies, cobblers, or desserts, it is usually not necessary to thaw the strawberries first. They will thaw as they cook in the dish.
It is recommended not to refreeze the strawberries for later use once they have thawed. This will affect the taste and the texture.
More Ways To Preserve Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
More Strawberry Dishes
Strawberry Stuffed French Toast–just swap out the jam for homemade pie filling.
Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
Layered Strawberry Cheesecake Bowl
How To Freeze Strawberries
Ingredients
- Strawberries Fresh
Instructions
- Rinse and clean strawberries under cold water and place them on paper towels to drain. Blot them dry or allow them to air dry.
- Using a paring knife, cut off the green tops of the strawberries. Some may use a strawberry huller, but a knife works just fine.
- Prepare the pan. Use a parchment-lined baking sheet. Slice berries or leave them whole and place them in a single layer on the baking sheet. For best results, make sure your berries are not touching.
- Place the pan in the freezer for at least an hour or longer until frozen.
- Take the pan out of the freezer and place the whole berries and slices into zip-top plastic freezer bags or freezer containers. Try to remove as much air as possible from the bags. Label and place back into the freezer.
Notes
Wow, I’ve never thought of doing that, instead of realizing we haven’t eaten them all and they are now spoiled! Thanks!
You are welcome!
I love to freeze berries! For the first time this year, our little strawberry plants have enough berries for us to have them with shortcake. If we ever have enough to freeze, I’ll keep your tips in mind.
Such a great idea! Strawberries spoil so fast and this is such a simple and great way to enjoy them longer. Thanks!
I always buy frozen strawberries for my smoothies. Why have I never thought of this? Duh!
Thanks for this post. new information for keeping our fruit good