How to Store Blackberries to Maximize Freshness

Blackberries can last between two to three days in your refrigerator, after which they can start to rot and turn moldy. You can freeze blackberries and store them in the freezer so that you can access the fresh fruit year-round: Freezing blackberries can extend their shelf life up to nine months.

Follow this guide for storing berries in the refrigerator:

1. 1. Select a vented container. Keep your blackberries in a container that allows them to breathe, which will slow down spoilage. You can keep your blackberries in the original container you bought them in at the grocery store (usually, a plastic clamshell or a cardboard container with air holes) if it’s undamaged. Avoid storing your berries in an airtight container because they need proper air circulation, or they will go bad.
2. 2. Line the container with a paper towel. Place a paper towel at the bottom of your storage container. The paper towel will absorb excess moisture that hastens the berries’ rotting process.
   
3. 3. Place in the refrigerator. Place the container with your blackberries in a part of the refrigerator with low humidity. Your fridge’s fruit crisper drawer is the ideal location. When you're ready to use your fresh berries, wash them under cold water in a colander. Only wash your berries when you're ready to use them, not before storage, because the moisture can encourage spoilage.

Before placing blackberries in the freezer for long-term storage, flash freeze the fruit to ensure they won't freeze together in one big clump. Follow this step-by-step guide to freezing blackberries so that you can make your favorite blackberry recipes year-round, from blackberry cobbler to boozy blackberry brambles.

1. 1. Wash in cold water. Place the berries in a colander or strainer and rinse them with water. Alternatively, swish them around in a large bowl of cool water.
2. 2. Use paper towels to dry. Lay your blackberries in a single layer on paper towels or a cloth kitchen towel. You should largely allow them to air-dry, but you can pat them dry with a paper towel to speed up the process.
3. 3. Arrange on a baking sheet. Place the blackberries on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to prepare them for flash-freezing. Ensure that none of the berries are touching, or else they’ll clump together during the freezing process.
4. 4. Flash freeze for three hours. Slide the baking tray into the freezer and leave it there for at least three hours. You can freeze it for longer, but the total time should not exceed twelve hours. This step, known as flash freezing, will prevent the individual berries from sticking to each other once in a freezer bag.
5. 5. Transfer to freezer bags. Remove the baking tray from the freezer and store the frozen berries in thick plastic bags or a freezer-safe container for long-term storage. You can keep these frozen blackberries in the freezer for up to six months without freezer burn or notable flavor loss. If you mix the blackberries with one cup of sugar before freezing them, you can extend their preservation time to nine months in the freezer.

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