How To Freeze Strawberries Whiskaffair

on Jan 26, 2021, Updated Aug 08, 2023 Use these frozen strawberries to make Strawberry Banana Yogurt Smoothie, Strawberry Cobbler, or Strawberry Sauce all year round. We were based in LA for two years because of Mohit’s work assignment. Over the weekend, we would hunt for activities with our 6-year-old son that would keep him occupied and expose him to various aspects of life. Someone suggested going to a fruit-picking farm. I had never heard of this concept in India, but it sounded exciting. Thanks to the internet, we found a strawberry-picking farm near our apartment. So we packed a picnic, took our hats, and went off. Bhavye enjoyed the experience, picking up a big tub of fresh, juicy, plump strawberries. We were back with almost 3 lb of fresh berries, which needed immediate attention.

Freezing Strawberries

Strawberry is one of the most versatile fruits, and I miss it when it’s not in season. Well, not anymore. I have discovered a few ways to preserve and use this fruit in any season. I make Strawberry Coulis or Strawberry Sauce, freeze them in small containers, and use them throughout the year. My Instant Pot Strawberry Jam is also a great recipe to preserve strawberries. But the best way to enjoy strawberries year-round is to freeze them. In this post, I share how to freeze strawberries for up to a year. In summer, when the strawberry season is at its peak, and you get the best and cheapest strawberries in the market, I always get a big batch and freeze them. Freezing strawberries is very easy. You can freeze them in multiple ways: whole, sliced, finely chopped, or crushed. You can also freeze them with or without sugar.

Usage Suggestions

Use the frozen strawberries to make smoothies or milkshakes like Just make sure to buy fully ripe, firm, and sweet strawberries to freeze. Opt for strawberries that are bright red and glossy. There should be no green or white streaks. Do not opt for deep red strawberries; they might be overripe and will turn mushy once thawed. The best time of the year to freeze strawberries is when they are in season: April to late June. They are also the cheapest in this time frame. Try to get your hands on organically grown berries. The farmer’s market is a great place to buy organically grown strawberries. Discard the berries that are soft and squishy. Take a large bowl filled with water and add ½ cup of white vinegar to it. Soak the strawberries in this mixture for a minute. The dirt will settle down. Do not soak the berries for longer than 1 minute; otherwise, they will lose their flavor and quality. Gently remove the strawberries from the top of the water. Spread them on an absorbent tea towel. Air dry for 40-60 minutes. Now chop off the top with the leaves from the strawberries and remove any blemishes if they have them. Note – Some people hull the strawberries, that is, remove the white part using a pairing knife, but I never do that and still get perfectly frozen strawberries. Note – At this stage, you can cut the strawberries into half, puree them, or chop them into small pieces. Note – You can also line the baking sheet with parchment paper so the strawberries won’t stick to the sheet. Freeze for 6-8 hours until each strawberry is frozen. Collect the frozen strawberries and put them in a zip-lock bag. Seal the bag and freeze the strawberries until you want to use them. Tip – Use a straw to remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag to avoid the formation of ice crystals. It’s also good to label the bag with the date of freezing.

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie Strawberry Lassi Strawberry Banana Kiwi Smoothie Strawberry Banana Spinach Green Smoothie Korean Strawberry Milk Strawberry Banana Milkshake Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie

Make desserts like Strawberry Cobbler. I also make Strawberry Sauce or Strawberry Jam and serve them with crepes, pancakes, or waffles all year round. My Strawberry BBQ Sauce is also a great sauce to make using frozen strawberries. Use them to make Strawberry Overnight Oats or Smoothie Bowls. You can even use it in cocktails and mocktails like Strawberry Margaritas, and your guests will surely wonder where you got the strawberries from. Haha, it happens to me all the time.