Do you want to save some summer-fresh blackberries to use later? Get the tips on the best way to freeze blackberries for a taste of summer in the winter.
How to Freeze Fresh Blackberries
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We get so many fresh blackberries every summer from our blackberry bushes that we can’t use them all! Whether you grow your own, or you stocked up when they were on sale, freezing blackberries is a fast and easy way to save them for a taste of summer later.
Before you freeze your blackberries, make sure all the stems and leaves are off, and clean them with cool running water (get more tips on washing blackberries here). It’s best to start with fresh, ripe blackberries. If you use blackberries that are overripe or are starting to go bad, you’ll have poor-quality blackberries when you try to use them later.
Flash Freezing
The best way to freeze blackberries is by flash freezing. Flash freezing freezes the berries individually, instead of in one large clump.
Line a large baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the cleaned blackberries out in a single layer on the paper. Loosely cover the baking pan with plastic wrap. Place the pan in your freezer. Freeze the berries overnight. When they are frozen, they should easily lift off the parchment paper. Transfer the frozen blackberries into Ziploc freezer bags. Label the bags with the date and contents, and stash them back in the freezer for a rainy day!
If you don’t have space in your freezer for a baking pan, you don’t need to flash freeze the blackberries. Clean the blackberries, and let them air dry on paper towels. Place the berries in Ziploc freezer bags, labeled with the date and contents. The berries will keep just as well, but they may freeze into a large clump, instead of nice individually-frozen blackberries.
If they are frozen properly (keeping as much air and moisture out as possible), blackberries should stay good for up to 1 year in the freezer.
For more blackberry tips, visit these articles:
Enjoy!
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Blackberrries are great frozen or fresh. Thanks for sharing the easy way to freeze blackberries in a simple and easy directions. Congratulations on being featured on Homestead blog hop. Pinned & tweeted.
Thank you, Marla!