How to Freeze Blueberries (or any berry!)

The blueberry season has been insanely prolific in Massachusetts this year, with farmers extending picking hours and customers lugging home bucket after bucket of sweet, delicious berries. Now, what to do when you get home and realize 10 lbs. of berries are a LOT of berries? Well, make sure to freeze some! It is so easy and you will have yummy berries to bake with, add to oatmeal and blend in smoothies the rest of the year. This method works with any berry, so if you are heading out for raspberries or blackberries, don't be shy.

Here you go, just a few easy steps to keeping those berries in the freezer! I learned this process many, many, many years ago from my Gram who showed me how important it was to freeze the berries individually before placing in a bag or Tupperware for longer freezer storage. You do not want to end up with one big unusable clump of berries!

1. Head to the nearest "Pick-Your-Own" berry farm and pick to your heart's content. My friend and I took our kids and they had a blast. Picking (and eating) their way down the rows of berry bushes.

 

2. Upon arriving home, wash berries thoroughly in cold water, picking out any stems or imperfect berries. Do this ASAP, since freezing berries immediately after picking will preserve the "fresh-picked" flavor.

 

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Spread berries on sheet in a single layer. Then place baking sheet in freezer for 24 hours.

 

4. After 24 hours in the freezer, prepare to bag up the berries --Have measuring cups and Ziplock bags ready, remove sheet from freezer and working quickly, bag frozen berries in measured increments according to your favorite recipe. Make sure to label bags so you know how much is inside. You can always have an extra bag for snacking and smoothies if you have any leftovers after measuring. Berries keep for up to 6 months in the freezer.

 

 

 

How easy was that?! (I also do this if I come upon an extra sweet batch of berries or a great sale at the local grocery store.) But get out and support your local farmers, first! 

 





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