Freeze fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries for up to 6 months using this easy preservation method. This method works for a small batch of berries or a large haul and avoids freezer burn and large frozen clumps.
4cupsfresh strawberries, blueberries blackberries, or raspberries. Freeze as many berries as will fit on your sheet pan.
Instructions
Wash the berries and dry them thoroughly. I wash berries in a vinegar bath and then dry the berries on a towel for a couple of hours (how to use a vinegar bath for berries). If you're planning to freeze the berries immeadiately, skip the vinegar bath, if desired, and just run the berries under fresh water. It's important for the strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries to be fully dry before freezing. Water left on the berries will cause the berries to suffer from freezer burn.
Once fully dry, spread the berries on a sheet pan/cookie sheet. I like to line my sheet pan with parchment paper to keep the berries from sticking to the pan once frozen. The berries should be in a single layer.
Place the sheet pan in the freezer and freeze for about an hour (time will vary depending on amount and size of berries). This method is known as "flash freezing."
Once the berries are completely frozen, spoon or dump the berries into an airtight container: a plastic freezer bag, silicone bag, or tempered glass container. If using a bag, remove extra air from the bag before sealing--this will prevent freezer burn issues.
Store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Use the frozen berries to make muffins, smoothies, overnight oats, yogurt bowls, froyo, and other delicious meals.
Notes
How many berries can you freeze at one time? I find that 4 cups of berries will fit in a single layer on a large sheet pan. This is why I suggest "4 cups" in the how-to above. But you can freeze any amount of berries desired, from just a handful of fresh berries that are about to go bad or a large haul. If you have a lot of berries, you'll need to freeze the berries in batches or use multiple sheet pans (if they'll fit in your freezer). Want to freeze blueberries?Check out my frozen blueberry tutorial here.
Servings: 4cups berries per sheet pan (freeze as many berries as desire)