Freezing Strawberries – Sustainable Cooks

Study all the information and methods for freezing strawberries to increase the harvest. Freezing recent strawberries is an effective way to protect this glorious summer season fruit with no need to know any particular kitchen expertise (like canning). 

True strawberry season, the place native berries are ripe, juicy, and wonderful, is so very quick. They’re not the unhappy berries that are available plastic out of your grocery retailer. I’m speaking concerning the berries that style like summer season. 

And since I really like you, this put up has a kitchen hack in it that you simply gained’t discover anyplace else! It cuts down on time and helps you freeze extra berries directly, and is ideal for anybody with a small freezer.

The right way to Put together Strawberries For Freezing

That is one of the best half – there’s nothing particular you must do! In contrast to fruits that brown when reduce (apples, apricots, and so forth.), freezing recent strawberries may be very easy.

• Rinse (don’t submerge in water)
• Take away tops
• Go away complete, reduce into halves or slices

Some folks select to make use of a little bit of sugar with their frozen berries. It’s completely elective however pointless.

The right way to Freeze Strawberries

Rinse your strawberries in a colander/strainer. You don’t wish to submerge them in water as a result of it may trigger them to turn out to be waterlogged.

Take away the tops both with a strawberry corer, this multipurpose instrument, or a pointy paring knife. I usually simply use a knife as a result of it’s quicker and my yard chickens LOVE strawberry tops!

Determine the way you wish to use your frozen berries – complete, halved, sliced, or macerated.

Place a chunk of parchment on a rimmed baking sheet and lay strawberries cut-side down on the tray. Use the house effectively, however attempt to not allow them to contact an excessive amount of.

Now, right here is one of the best freezing strawberries kitchen hack ever! Lay one other piece of parchment on high of the berries and high with a further layer of berries. You are able to do as much as three layers of berries on the identical baking sheet earlier than it turns into precarious. Pre-berrious?

This trick works so nicely since you don’t want to search out house for a number of trays of berries in your freezer. And, you don’t have to attend for a single layer of berries to freeze earlier than you can begin your subsequent batch.

Permit the strawberries to freeze via (about 3 hours, however for those who’re like me, you’ll neglect about them and depart them in a single day…) after which switch them to freezer-proof storage containers. See the record beneath for nice storage choices!

In the event you’re asking your self, “can I freeze strawberries in Ziploc baggage”, the reply is YES! A cool hack for eradicating further air from the bag will maintain your berries secure from freezer burn. 

Place a straw within the nook of a freezer bag and shut the bag as tightly as potential. Suck the air out via the straw 1-2 instances and rapidly take away the straw and seal the bag. It would take you a number of instances to get the dangle of it, but it surely’s strong gold when you grasp this FREE method.

How Do You Thaw Frozen Strawberries?

It is dependent upon the way you wish to use them. For issues like jam or in a single day oats, or yogurt cups, it’s nice to permit them to thaw in their very own juices.

For fast thawing – place the (sealed) freezer bag in a big mixing bowl full of heat water. Exchange the water each 20 minutes when it cools.

For fundamental thawing – place the freezer bag in a big mixing bowl and permit it to take a seat at room temperature or within the fridge. For a 1-gallon bag of strawberries, it’ll take as much as 24 hours within the fridge, or 12 hours at room temperature to utterly thaw.

Professional tip: regardless of how nicely you sealed the bag, some juice will possible leak out in the course of the thawing course of. All the time place the freezer bag in a bowl, or on a deep plate to stop a large number.

If any recipe requires the juices to be drained from the frozen berries, reserve and add to glowing water for a refreshing drink. Or, combine with just a little honey easy syrup, and frozen mint cubes and create a strawberry mojito mocktail! You might additionally refreeze the berry juice in ice dice trays so as to add to drinks.