Blueberries are $1.19/pint at our local Aldi's this week. I would love to buy a bunch and freeze them for later but don't know the best way to go about it. I know there have to be some tips on the best way to freeze fresh fruit yourself?
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Lay them out on a cookie sheet, make sure it is a single layer and they aren't touching. Stick them in the freezer until completely frozen, then bag them up! I do have to warn you, when you defrost them they end up being kind of squishy. At least ours did.
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Freezing blueberries is easy! Just wash them and then dry them off with a paper towel (or a kitchen towel, but it will get stained). Put them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and pop in the freezer for a few hours. When they're solid, move them into a ziplock bag and get out as much air as you can, then store in your freezer. If you just throw the fresh berries in a bag to start, you end up with a blob of berries that's hard to use, but this method keeps them separated so you can use however many you need each time.
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@mediagirl: I freeze fruit but I freeze with the intention of eating it frozen or using it for smoothies. I freeze grapes, blueberries & strawberries for LO and she eats them frozen. I also use them in smoothies. I just freeze them in a ziploc bag
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Yes! We do this all the time, especially blueberries. I buy a bunch, rinse them and take off any little stalks that might still be attached (in case I want to grab a handful from the freezer to throw in a smoothie), and then lay them on a paper towel to dry before putting in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Make sure they are completely dry or you will end up with little icicles and they may clump together.
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I use the same technique as @PurplePeony and @KT326 for all my fruit! It does change the texture but not enough to bother me if I'm using the fruit for smoothies, yogurt, baking, or giving to LO
I wouldn't use them on a salad though.
What a good deal on berries, wish we had an Aldi's -
@lindseykaye: @beachbee: @Mrsbells: @PurplePeony: @KT326: Great tips, thank you so much!!
I have bought frozen berries before and they're never as good as fresh so I definitely just want to use them for smoothies, my LO or muffins and pancakes!!
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Same as above - and then I store them in Pyrex and use for baking or smoothies
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I've frozen cherries, blueberries, grapes, strawberries and bananas!
I don't do anything special. I just wash, shake the water off and stick them in a ziplock! -
I only freeze stuff for smoothies, or bananas to use in banana bread or oatmeal.
I put the bananas in with the peel on and other fruit, I usually process as much as I can and freeze in a baggie.
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I froze about 15lbs of blueberries this year. GREAT instructions here: http://pickyourown.org/freezingblueberries.htm
Blueberries are actually the only berries you shouldn't wash before freezing - it does something to the skins and makes them tough after you defrost them.
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I don't wash my blueberries before I freeze them. I don't put them on a cookie sheet either - i just portion them in to quart containers and freeze.
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i think mrs. tricycle just posted about freezing fruits and i did it shortly after! super easy. i did it on a tray and then moved it to a container so i could grab what i wanted without it being frozen in a lump!
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We freeze a bunch of blueberries and blackberries (11 pounds this year) after going to a pick-your-own place near my parents. I throw a handful of blueberries in plain yogurt on my way out the door and they are defrosted by the time I get to work, so I have a healthy breakfast in the mornings. I also use the berries to make cobblers and bread. Yummy - in fact I still have half a blackberry cobbler left from last weekend.
Just lay them out on a cookie sheet and freeze for about an hour, then transfer to plastic baggies for storage. This keeps them from clumping together, so you can just grab what you want. You don't want to wash blueberries because it makes them tough when defrosted, though.
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I just freeze them in a ziplock freezer bag.
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@abbylyn: @stine_ciro: I had no idea about not washing them -- I always do and I've never noticed an issue with the skins, but I usually put them directly into muffins or pancakes, still frozen. I rarely, if ever, defrost them before using.
I wouldn't use them on a salad though.Reply
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