Freezing Berries (Blueberries, Hucks, Raspberries, Blackberries, etc.)

Variety of Berries at Market

By Cat, July 24, 2014 (Photo, right, from Wikimedia Commons)

See also: 1. Food Preservation Menu; 2. Freezing Stone Fruits (Peaches, etc.)

I have a plethora of large raspberries this year, and want to freeze most of them. I pick them when they are quite ripe (they slip easily off the core), so they are not up to being washed – they turn into a fruit smoothie if you wash them. And they are very sensitive to being touched too much, so I want a method that requires the least amount of handling until they are frozen. I consulted Pick Your Own (1) for tips.

Freezing Berries

Pick Your Own (1) does not recommend washing blueberries, June berries (Service berries or Saskatoons) or bucks before freezing as it tends to make the skin tough. Instead, wash them after thawing. Other berries can be washed before freezing unless they are quite ripe (like my raspberries).

1. Clean berries (wash before freezing if appropriate – see above). Pick out stems and other debris.
2. Arrange berries on a baking tray or pan in a single layer.
3. Place tray/pan in freezer, allowing space for air to circulate.
4. When thoroughly frozen, remove from freezer and transfer berries to air-tight bags or vacuum-pack bags, then return to freezer.
5. NOTE if using zip-lox bags: Insert a straw to suck out excess air before closing bag completely.

References

1. Pick Your Own, Freezing Berries (pickyourown.org/freezingblueberries.htm)