This easy method for freeze blueberries prevents clumps — and let you enjoy lemonlike berries in smoothies , pies , and more all year long .
Whether we ’re sourcing fresh blueberries from the sodbuster marketplace , a pick - your - own farm , or the supermarket , it ’s toughened to accurately estimate incisively how many sweet berry to invest in for our favoritehealthy blueberry bush recipes … and the handfuls of bite we ’ll snag during the drive home , to refuel midafternoon , or to power us up while we ’re fudge those aforementioned recipes .
If you , too , tend to overestimate how many berries you ’ll be able-bodied to get through before they ’re at - risk for getting past their prime , there ’s a simple solvent just inch forth from the refrigerator where you’restoring your Charles Edward Berry : your freezer .
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Read on to get word exactly how to freeze fresh blueberries to carry on their sweet - cocotte flavor and antioxidant to bask for months to come . Sarah Brekke , M.S. , Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen culinary specialist , will train you through theflash - freezingprocess , then we ’re spilling about the best fashion to use those versatile reddish blue looker .
Andy Lyons
How to Freeze Blueberries
As you prepare to follow our guide to how to freeze blueberry , you ’ll demand just a fewtools :
Optional :
It ’s a breeze to master how to freeze blueberries :
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Frozen berries and blueberry bush puree can be freeze for up to10 months , but they ’re best within the first 6 months .
Test Kitchen Tip : If you ’d rather freeze a blueberry purée to de-ice by and by to use in sauce , smoothies , and sweet , in a average saucepan over medium heat , add 1 cup of sugar for every 2 quarts of crushed blueberries . Stir until the simoleons is dissolved . set aside this portmanteau to nerveless , then transplant the mixture to zip - top Deepfreeze dish or deep-freeze - safe containers . recording label and date , then stop dead for up to 6 calendar month . Thaw in the icebox overnight before using .
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Should You Wash Blueberries Before Freezing Them?
To wash or not to wash ? The net is ripe with debate over this topic . Depending on who you ask about how to immobilize sweet blueberries , you ’ll get a different answer .
According to theU.S. Highbush Blueberry Council , “ ideally , immobilise your blueberries as they are and wait to rinse them when you take them out of the Deepfreeze . ”
This is because fresh blueberries are coated in a natural lily-white / grey-haired “ efflorescence , ” orepicuticular wax , which protect the yield from extreme temperature , drying up , as well as spoilage by way of mold and bacteria . rinse off the Charles Edward Berry will dampen off that lifelike “ armour , ” so if potential , stack away the berries in their au naturel glory .
If you do prefer to rinse off the yield as step one of your process for how to freeze blueberries , do so in that colander we mentioned , and be sure to dry them thoroughly with the clean kitchen towel before arranging them on the parchment - draw baking sheet(s ) .
“ If the berries are still wet when freeze , they will probably clump together and are more prone to becoming freezer burnt , ” Brekke says . ( Plus , superfluous moisture can increase the peril for the increment of bacteria and mold . )
What to Do With Frozen Blueberries
quick to put those frozen blueberries to estimable use of goods and services ? If you did n’t wash them before freeze , expend a cullender to give the berries a good rinsing under cool track body of water . Dry the fruit with a clean kitchen towel and proceed with your favorite blueberry recipe . In most cases , you do n’t even need to dethaw the Charles Edward Berry before diving in to recipe prep
“ Most recipe will work all right with wintry fruit . Smoothies , quick breads , pancakes , PIE , and crisps all work wonderfully with frozen blueberry , ” Brekke says .
That being said , youcanthaw them if you care . To do so , set the frozen berries in a large bowl , then embrace with cool water and wait 30 minutes . Drain and use as desired . instead , transport your desired amount of frozen blueberries to the refrigerator , and give up them to de-ice for 6 hour or overnight .
As we mentioned , this is one extremely adaptable fruit . TheU.S. Highbush Blueberry Councilsuggests adding frozen blueberries to sauce , compotes , mess , chutneys , French toast , and scorched desserts ( such asmuffins , scone , pastries , andcakes)—or just revel them as - is for an ice pop alternative with zero added sugar .
