A simple step-by-step process for how to freeze berries like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries will help prolong the life of your favorite fruit so you can enjoy them year-round.

I don't know about you, but I find having a bowl of fresh berries such a treat. I like to put them on my oatmeal drizzled with honey or to serve over my favorite pancakes.

The problem with fresh berries is they don't really last that long. Sometimes when I get my store-bought berries home I notice they are already a bit fuzzy the next day. It's so frustrating!

So, instead of picking through the container looking for the best ones, I started to freeze them right away and in doing so, have been able to enjoy them for a lot longer!

What you need to freeze berries

• Paper towels: to clean and dry your berries
• Zip-Lock bags: quart or gallon freezer bags will work great. If you have containers, that works too. Both just need to be air-tight.
• Jelly Roll pan: or a small cookie/baking sheet pan
• Parchment paper: to line your pan. This makes it so much easier to transfer your frozen fruit to your bag or container!

How to freeze fruit

Some really simple steps to stick to for freezing berries are all you have to follow. Leaving fruit whole like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries or leaving whole or sliced like strawberries all depends on how you like to eat them.

1. Gently wash fruit with water.
2. Pat with a paper towel to dry, or leave in a single layer on a towel to air-dry.
3. Slice fruit if you want to freeze this way instead of whole.

Simple steps to follow before freezing:

After following the prep steps above, the rest of the process is really pretty simple. The hardest part of this whole thing is waiting for the freeze to happen!

1. Take cleaned fruit and place in a single layer on a parchment-lined jelly roll pan or baking sheet.
2. Place pan in the freezer and freeze fruit for 1 hour.
3. Once berries are hard, remove from pan and place in Zip-lock bag or container.
4. Place in the freezer.

FAQ's

Some common questions asked about freezing berries are answered.

How do you freeze blackberries without getting mushy?

To keep blackberries or any berry from getting mushy while freezing is to make sure you freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Because the fruit is not touching during the process, they become kind of like their own little ice cube, much like frozen peas!

Can I freeze strawberries whole?

Yes! You can freeze strawberries whole or sliced. If freezing whole, be sure to remove the stem and core before placing in the freezer.

Can I freeze my berry container right from the store?

Absolutely. Many times, I will pick up a couple of packages of berries when they are in season &/or when there is a buy one get one sale. Knowing I won't use ALL of them immediately, I will take the whole container and just put it in the freezer. This is especially awesome when it comes to raspberries and blueberries.

When I'm ready to use them, I'll take out of the freezer and rinse them off then.

Serving Suggestions for frozen fruit

Some of our favorite ways to enjoy frozen berries:

• Smoothies: I love making smoothies and using frozen fruit, especially berries are really yummy. I love our PB&J Protein smoothie recipe!
• Yogurt Parfaits: Layered yogurt, granola, and berries is a delicious way to enjoy breakfast or snack during the day!
• Scones or baked goods: Frozen fruit works so well in baked goods because you can stir them in and they won't break down to mush while baking! Try these scrumptious Blueberry Lemon Scones!!
• Cereal– so very good to top on your favorite flavor of cereal or oatmeal!!
• Ice Cream– place on top of ice cream before drizzling with chocolate syrup! Yum!

Freezing berries from the produce section or from fresh-picked fields is a great way to ensure you have seasonal fruit all year long.

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How to Freeze Berries

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A simple step by step process on how to freeze berries like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries to help prolong the life of your favorite fruit so you can enjoy them year-round. 

Prep Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries

Instructions

1. Take cleaned fruit and place in a single layer on a parchment-lined jelly roll pan or baking sheet. 
2. Place pan in the freezer and freeze fruit for 1 hour.
3. Once berries are hard, remove from pan and place in Zip-lock bag or container. 
4. Place in the freezer

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  PaperChef Culinary Parchment Multipurpose Non-Stick Paper, 205 sq ft
• 
  Rubbermaid 2108392 Easy Find Vented Lids Food Storage, Set of 8 (16 Pieces Total) Plastic Meal Prep Containers, 8-Pack, Racer Red
• 
  Ziploc Storage Bags, Gallon, Mega Pack, 150 ct (2 Pack, 75 ct)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 6Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g

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