THE ART OF FREEZING BERRIES

 Stock up on berries now for a taste of summer in winter...

updated 7/23; first posted 2015

Strawberries Prepped for freezing using pizza tray ridges to keep separate 

There's a glut of wonderful soft fruit in the shops, a riot of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries and plums -- all marvellously perfumed and vividly coloured.  Fresh and by the handful, baked or poached, buried in puddings, turned into instant jam/fruit compote -- there are as many ways of eating them as there are ways of combining them. 

(See:  Skinny Cherry Pie, Orange & Berry Plate,  Raspberry Streusel Coffee Cake, Reducing Food Bills: Fruit, )

When prices drop in times of glut, it will  be time to stock up, freeze and store berries.  When  fresh fruit and the wonderful weather are just a memory - a few short months -  you'll have the means to add a jewelled sparkle to autumn fruit crumbles and stewed fruits.  

Freezing berries is the easiest thing in the world.  Place them on a flat surface, with a bit of distance between them so they don't freeze in clumps.  A ridged pizza pan keeps the berries separated in rows; a griddle pan or a plastic microwave bacon tray will do a similar job. Otherwise, a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper is fine, so long as the berries aren't squashed together.   

Blueberries on a cheap 'n cheerful microwave bacon tray 

Most of the fruit can be frozen whole but strawberries planned for smoothies are better frozen halved or quartered.  The fruit will take a couple of hours to freeze solid.  Then bag them up and label the berries but don't fasten the bags tightly. That way, you can reach in at any time and grab a handful for smoothies or to sprinkle over muffins or hot porridge.  They'll keep up to six months.

It's best to freeze unblemished fruit.  If the fruit is soft or going bad in places, cut them out and use them for instant low-no sugar compote/jam.  The resulting compotes/jam can be frozen in individual jars or air tight freezer bags. 

Some other ideas for frozen berries.  

• Sugar-free Apple and Blackberry pie 
• Pear and Blueberry Crumble
• Strawberry Crumble
• Fruit Compote and Pancakes 

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