How to Freeze Strawberries: 4 Tips for Freezing Strawberries

Spring and summer may leave you with an abundance of strawberries. Luckily, they are easy to freeze. Not only do the whole berries freeze well, but these frozen berries lend themselves perfectly to a number of strawberry recipes like milkshakes, strawberry sauces, and baked dishes. Here is a brief overview of three ways to freeze strawberries:

1. 1. Freeze them individually to prevent clumping. You can freeze your strawberries individually before storing them in the freezer if you’d like to use individual strawberries in recipes at a later date. First, thoroughly wash your strawberries. Next, hull the berries by cutting off the top section with the green leaves where it was plucked from the vine. Allow your berries to dry for about an hour, then pat them with a paper towel. When your berries are completely dry, lay them out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet with some space between each berry. Place them in the freezer for an hour. Once they have begun to develop ice crystals, you can transfer them to a large plastic bag and store them in the freezer.
2. 2. Freeze them in clusters. The simplest way to freeze strawberries is to place them in a plastic container or freezer bag in the freezer. Use a paring knife to hull your strawberries first, then rinse them under running water using a colander. Allow them to dry on a paper towel, then put them in your freezer container. This is a great method for stewed, blended, or puréed dishes like strawberry milkshakes, smoothies, or strawberry syrup.
3. 3. Dry-freeze them with sugar. Freezing strawberries with sugar prepares them to be used in baked goods like strawberry rhubarb pie and strawberry shortcake. Begin by hulling and washing your strawberries, then mix sugar into your strawberries. For every quart of berries, use a half cup of sugar. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for tartness. Allow the strawberries to sit for a few minutes to allow the sugar to dissolve, which will create a sweet juice. Place the strawberries and the juice in an airtight freezer container and freeze. The sweet strawberries can be served with ice cream, used in strawberry smoothies, or used to make strawberry jam once it is defrosted.

There are a few different ways of thawing frozen strawberries depending on your prep time and when you need them. Some recipes like ice cream and smoothies are even better with frozen berries, but other recipes like pies might require thawed strawberries. Here are three ways to defrost frozen strawberries.

1. 1. Using the microwave: Microwave-thawing your strawberries is the quickest way of warming them up. Place your berries in a microwave-safe bowl, put them in the microwave, and use the defrost function. Check on your berries at one-minute intervals to see whether the strawberries are defrosted.
2. 2. Defrosting in a water basin: Thaw frozen berries by placing them in a leak-proof bowl, then place the bowl in a larger bowl or water basin that is filled with cold water. Your strawberries should be ready after thawing for a total time of 15 to 30 minutes.
3. 3. Defrosting at room temperature: Lay your strawberries out on a single layer on a plate or baking tray. Let them sit for a few hours to defrost at room temperature. This may take a couple of hours.

Here are a few tips to consider when preparing to freeze your own strawberries.

1. 1. Always use fresh strawberries. Fresh, ripe strawberries are the best ones to freeze. Look for strawberries at your local farmer's market to find out when it is strawberry season. Use strawberries that are bright red, but not such a deep red that indicates overripeness. If your strawberries are too red, they are probably past ripe and will become mushy when frozen and thawed.
2. 2. Hull your strawberries before you freeze them. Hulling is the process of removing the green top of the strawberry where it meets the vine. Always use a simple paring knife to hull your strawberries before freezing. If you don’t, your berries may hold onto extra moisture and turn to mush when you defrost them.
3. 3. Store your berries in airtight containers. Make sure to store your strawberries in an airtight container or freezer bag when they are in the freezer. This will prevent freezer burn caused by air getting into your strawberries and sucking out the moisture.
4. 4. Date your freezer bag. Strawberries will survive in the freezer for approximately 12 months. Place a label on your strawberries with the date on them so you can keep track of how long they've been frozen.

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