How to Freeze Strawberries
If you’ve ever had an abundance of fresh, ripe strawberries in your fridge and couldn’t eat them fast enough, then tIf you’ve ever had an abundance of fresh, ripe strawberries in your fridge and couldn’t eat them fast enough, then this post is for you! Learn how to freeze strawberries to keep them fresh for at least six months.
How to Freeze Strawberries Whole or Sliced
Freezing strawberries for smoothie packs or baked goods is super easy. You can freeze them whole or sliced, depending on what you plan to use them for (see below).
Here’s how to freeze strawberries:
- Place the strawberries in a strainer under running water and clean.
- Put the strainer in a large bowl and add water and two drops of Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds (or 1 part distilled white vinegar to four parts water). Mix them around so that all the strawberries are submerged in the solution. Let the berries sit for two minutes, then rinse them thoroughly.
- Cut off the green tops of the strawberries and slice them into pieces if desired.
- Place the berries (whole or sliced) on a parchment sheet lined pan or plate and place in the freezer until solid. This can take two hours.
- Transfer the berries into an airtight container. If you are using a reusable ziplock bag, squeeze out as much of the air as possible. The berries will last about four to six months in the freezer.
When you’re ready to use your frozen berries, just take them directly from the freezer!
Is It Better To Freeze Strawberries Whole or Sliced?
To slice or not to slice? That answer is wholly dependent on how you want to use the frozen strawberries in the future. If you want to use the strawberries for smoothies or shakes, you can leave them whole (this is also less prep, which we love). However, if you want strawberries for pastries, pies, or jam, we recommend slicing them before freezing.
We get it, sometimes we can’t predict the future, so we like to leave some strawberries whole and the other half sliced. This way, you can be prepared for any future recipe.
How Long Do Strawberries Take to Freeze?
Depending on how you prep and slice the strawberries and the strength of your freezer, freezing them can take up to 2 to 4 hours. Obviously, the thinner you slice the strawberries, the faster they will take to fully freeze. Whole strawberries will take longer to freeze.
Should You Blanch Strawberries Before Freezing?
Unlike blanching and freezing kale, blanching strawberries before freezing do not help preserve them. I would not recommend blanching strawberries before freezing as this will make them mushy and change their texture.
Can You Defrost Strawberries Without Them Getting Mushy?
Unfortunately, freezing strawberries alters their texture completely because the water in the berries expands once frozen and ruptures the cell walls. Once it defrosts and the water melts, the fruit turns mushy. This means that once you freeze a strawberry, it’s nearly impossible to defrost the berry and have it return to its once plump and crisp texture.
We recommend using frozen strawberries for specific recipes like smoothies or shakes where you can use the frozen texture as a thickener, or in baked goods (like berry oatmeal breakfast bars) or jams where the strawberries are going to be cooked so the texture isn’t a dealbreaker.
Why It’s Important to Wash Strawberries
We recommend washing strawberries before using them in any capacity, whether that’s eating them or freezing them. Every year, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) comes out with the “dirty dozen” — a list of vegetables and fruits that have the highest contaminants of pesticides. Unfortunately, strawberries are usually on this list, which is why it’s important to always wash strawberries.
Like we mentioned above, to make sure each strawberry gets washed thoroughly, place the berries in a strainer under the faucet and rinse them. Place the strainer in a larger bowl and add water and some Dr. Bronners Sal Suds until the berries are submerged. Mix them around a bit and let them sit for about two minutes and then rinse. You can also use a mixture of four parts water and one part distilled white vinegar as a cleaning solution, too.
How to Choose Sweet Strawberries
When choosing strawberries at the market or the grocery store, aim for berries that are bright red, plump, and have fresh green leaves. Look over the berries to make sure there isn’t any mold growing on them. If they feel mushy, don’t buy them. Most importantly, ripe strawberries should smell amazingly sweet and fragrant. Most farmer’s markets will let you taste test too.
How Long Do Frozen Strawberries Last?
Frozen strawberries will last about 4-6 months in the freezer before getting frostbite and/or degrading their texture and flavor. It’s best to use your produce as soon as possible, whether it’s fresh or frozen.
How to Freeze Strawberries
Equipment
- strainer and large bowl (or salad spinner)
- Knife
- Parchment paper
- Sheet pan or plate
- airtight container
Ingredients
- 1 c strawberries
- water
- Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds or distilled white vinegar
Instructions
- Place the strawberries in a strainer under running water and clean.
- Put the strainer in a large bowl and add water and two drops of Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds (or 1 part distilled white vinegar to four parts water). Mix them around so that all the strawberries are submerged in the solution. Let the berries sit for two minutes, then rinse them thoroughly.
- Cut off the green tops of the strawberries and slice them into pieces if desired.
- Place the berries (whole or sliced) on a parchment sheet lined pan or plate and place in the freezer for at least two hours.
- Transfer the berries into an airtight container. If you are using a reusable ziplock bag, squeeze out as much of the air as possible. The berries will last about four to six months in the freezer.
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