Learn how to freeze strawberries and how to use frozen strawberries to make delicious strawberry recipes like healthy strawberry ice cream, strawberry smoothies or strawberry jam!
Strawberries. A true gift from nature! They look good, they taste good and unlike many other foods with those two characteristics, they’re also good for you. Strawberry season is coming and I don’t know about you, but I’ll try to eat as many as I can fresh. Not in smoothies, not in cakes, just wash and eat type of thing. Told you, a true, perfect gift from nature.
Since strawberry season is never long enough, I always make sure to preserve some of my harvest for later seasons. There are multiple ways to preserve strawberries, for example, canning, drying, but my favorite is freezing. Freezing strawberries is super easy and preserves the fresh flavor and the aroma of the fruit the best. And frozen strawberries are so great for smoothies and shakes!
How To Freeze Strawberries
Wash. The first step after harvesting or buying the strawberries you want to freeze is to wash them thoroughly. Place the strawberries in a colander and rinse for a few minutes under running water, moving them around carefully to not damage the fruit.
Cut. You can freeze strawberries with the stems on, but I find it easier to use them frozen when the stems are already off. So I always cut it off. Rinse again if you feel you need to.
Dry. In order to freeze only strawberries and not strawberries with the water you used to wash them, let the fruit air dry for about 10-20 minutes.
Arrange and Freeze. Line a baking sheet that would fit in your freezer with parchment paper. Place the strawberries onto a baking sheet in a single layer leaving some space in between. Put the baking sheet in the freezer overnight.
Transfer. Once the strawberries are frozen, transfer them into freezer bags and place in the freezer.
Freezing strawberries this way will prevent them from getting mushy and sticking frozen together in the bag.
How Long Do frozen Strawberries Last
Frozen strawberries will last you many months, sometimes even up to a year.
Make sure to not open bags you’re not using, as the less you open them, the longer they’ll last.
How To Thaw Frozen Strawberries
The best way to thaw the strawberries you froze is to leave them on the counter. You could also thaw them with some cool water. The less aggressive the way you thaw them, the better it is for the flavor. They will be softer than fresh strawberries and will release some fluid – drain gently and use as you’d like.
How To Use Frozen Strawberries
You can use frozen strawberries in many ways, here are some examples:
- to make strawberry jam (thaw first)
- in smoothies – I use them frozen and it makes for a great texture of the smoothie
- in cakes or breakfasts (best to thaw first)
- blended on top of parfaits
More On How To Preserve Food
How To Freeze Strawberries And Use Them
Learn how to freeze strawberries and how to use frozen strawberries to make delicious strawberry recipes like healthy strawberry ice cream, strawberry smoothies or strawberry jam!
Ingredients
- 450g/1 lb strawberries
Instructions
- The first step after harvesting or buying the strawberries you want to freeze is to wash them thoroughly. Place the strawberries in a colander and rinse for a few minutes under running water, moving them around carefully to not damage the fruit.
- You can freeze strawberries with the stems on, but I find it easier to use them frozen when the stems are already off. So I always cut it off. Rinse again if you feel you need to.
- In order to freeze only strawberries and not strawberries with the water you used to wash them, let the fruit air dry for about 10-20 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet that would fit in your freezer with parchment paper. Place the strawberries onto a baking sheet in a single layer leaving some space in between. Put the baking sheet in the freezer overnight.
- Once the strawberries are frozen, transfer them into freezer bags and place in the freezer.
Nutrition Information
Yield 3 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 48Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 2mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 3gSugar 7gProtein 1g
