Today we’ll learn how to freeze strawberries! Freezing fresh strawberries is a great way to preserve them, so you can enjoy their sweetness for months. You can use your frozen strawberries for smoothies and to make other delicious strawberry recipes!
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.
Reasons To Freeze Strawberries For Smoothies
Since strawberry season is never long enough, I always make sure to preserve some of my harvests for later seasons.
There are multiple ways to preserve strawberries, for example, canning and drying, but my favorite is freezing.
Freezing strawberries is super simple and preserves the fresh flavor and the nutrients of the fruit the best.
If you freeze strawberries properly, you can have them as an excellent source of vitamin C during winter. Don’t buy fresh strawberries from the store in January – they’re not good for you. Better open the freezer bag and add them to your smoothies or let them thaw for a bit and use them as a topping for your overnight oats.
What’s more you can freeze strawberries for smoothies! Frozen strawberries are excellent in smoothies, shakes and even ice cream! Or sorbet if you’re a fan. You simply need to add them to your blender with some milk and banana and you’ll be stunned! Here’s the healthy ice cream recipe I always make with frozen strawberries.
How To Freeze Strawberries
Now let’s get to the reason we’re actually here: learning how to freeze strawberries!
Select good strawberries. Before you start freezing them, it’s crucial to pick the right strawberries. This is the first step after harvesting or buying the fruit. For freezing, you want strawberries that are intact and fully ripe. So remove any bruised strawberries and let the unripe ones ripen.
Wash. The next step is to wash the strawberries thoroughly. Place them in a colander and rinse for a few minutes under running water, moving them around gently in order to not damage the fruit.
Cut the top off. 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 prior to freezing. 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, then 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 that baking sheet in a single layer leaving some space in between the fruits. Put the baking sheet in the freezer overnight.
Transfer. Once the strawberries are frozen, transfer them into freezer bags and place them 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 the frozen strawberries will last.
How To Thaw Frozen Strawberries
The best way to thaw frozen strawberries is to leave them at room temperature for 10-20 minutes. Remember, the less aggressive the way you thaw them, the better it is for the flavor. The thawed strawberries will be softer than fresh strawberries and will release some fluid. Therefore drain gently and use as you’d like.
How To Use Frozen Strawberries For Smoothies
Adding frozen strawberries to smoothies is my favorite way to use them! Now only do they make the smoothie cool, they also make it creamier and thicker. Almost like ice cream. You can choose to make a strawberry smoothie with banana or without. Both will be delicious and make perfect healthy snack ideas.
Other Ways To Use Frozen Strawberries
Other than in smoothies, you can use frozen smoothies in many other ways. For example you can thaw them and use to make strawberry jam or baked goods. You can also use them to top your breakfast, desserts, or blend to use over cheesecakes or parfaits.
More On How To Freeze Food
I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to freeze strawberries and start freezing some yourself once strawberry season comes! Now if you’ve got some more space in your freezer, here are some other foods that you can freeze:
How To Freeze Strawberries
Learn how to freeze strawberries! Freezing fresh strawberries is a great way to preserve them, so you can enjoy their sweetness for months. You can use your frozen strawberries for smoothies and to make other delicious strawberry recipes!
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
Originally published in April 2022, and last updated in February 2023.