How to Freeze Strawberries
on Jan 26, 2021, Updated Aug 08, 2023
Wondering how to freeze strawberries when they are in season? Read my detailed post below and learn how to freeze these berries at home without getting mushy.
Use these frozen strawberries to make Strawberry Banana Yogurt Smoothie, Strawberry Cobbler, or Strawberry Sauce all year round.
We were based in LA for two years because of Mohit’s work assignment. Over the weekend, we would hunt for activities with our 6-year-old son that would keep him occupied and expose him to various aspects of life.
Someone suggested going to a fruit-picking farm. I had never heard of this concept in India, but it sounded exciting.
Thanks to the internet, we found a strawberry-picking farm near our apartment. So we packed a picnic, took our hats, and went off. Bhavye enjoyed the experience, picking up a big tub of fresh, juicy, plump strawberries. We were back with almost 3 lb of fresh berries, which needed immediate attention.
Freezing Strawberries
Strawberry is one of the most versatile fruits, and I miss it when it’s not in season. Well, not anymore.
I have discovered a few ways to preserve and use this fruit in any season.
I make Strawberry Coulis or Strawberry Sauce, freeze them in small containers, and use them throughout the year.
My Instant Pot Strawberry Jam is also a great recipe to preserve strawberries.
But the best way to enjoy strawberries year-round is to freeze them. In this post, I share how to freeze strawberries for up to a year.
In summer, when the strawberry season is at its peak, and you get the best and cheapest strawberries in the market, I always get a big batch and freeze them.
Freezing strawberries is very easy. You can freeze them in multiple ways: whole, sliced, finely chopped, or crushed. You can also freeze them with or without sugar.
Ingredients
You need one ingredient for this – Strawberries.
Just make sure to buy fully ripe, firm, and sweet strawberries to freeze. Opt for strawberries that are bright red and glossy. There should be no green or white streaks.
Do not opt for deep red strawberries; they might be overripe and will turn mushy once thawed.
The best time of the year to freeze strawberries is when they are in season: April to late June. They are also the cheapest in this time frame.
Try to get your hands on organically grown berries. The farmer’s market is a great place to buy organically grown strawberries.
How To Freeze Strawberries
Start by washing the strawberries. It is highly recommended that you wash the berries before freezing to remove dirt.
Discard the berries that are soft and squishy.
Take a large bowl filled with water and add ½ cup of white vinegar to it. Soak the strawberries in this mixture for a minute. The dirt will settle down. Do not soak the berries for longer than 1 minute; otherwise, they will lose their flavor and quality.
Gently remove the strawberries from the top of the water.
Spread them on an absorbent tea towel. Air dry for 40-60 minutes.
Now chop off the top with the leaves from the strawberries and remove any blemishes if they have them.
Note – Some people hull the strawberries, that is, remove the white part using a pairing knife, but I never do that and still get perfectly frozen strawberries.
Note – At this stage, you can cut the strawberries into half, puree them, or chop them into small pieces.
Arrange the strawberries on a baking tray in a single layer. To avoid clumping, ensure the strawberries do not touch each other on the tray.
Note – You can also line the baking sheet with parchment paper so the strawberries won’t stick to the sheet.
Freeze for 6-8 hours until each strawberry is frozen.
Collect the frozen strawberries and put them in a zip-lock bag. Seal the bag and freeze the strawberries until you want to use them.
Tip – Use a straw to remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag to avoid the formation of ice crystals. It’s also good to label the bag with the date of freezing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, washing the strawberries before freezing them is essential to removing dirt. I recommend soaking them in a water and vinegar solution to ensure they are bacteria and mold-free. Mix 3 cups of water and ½ cup vinegar in a large bowl and soak the berries for 3-4 minutes in this solution. Then rinse with water, drain, air dry, and freeze.
There is no compulsion to thaw the strawberries. If you use them to make smoothies or milkshakes, where you need frozen fruits, you can use them directly from the freezer. However, you must thaw them to room temperature if you use them in baked goods.
There are multiple ways by which you can thaw the strawberries.
1. Need Them Urgently – Use your microwave’s defrost option and check the berries regularly until they are defrosted.
2. Need Them in 15 Minutes – Add the strawberries to a bowl and keep this bowl over a larger bowl filled with water.
3. Need Them in an Hour – Spread the frozen strawberries on a tray in a single layer and leave them on the counter for an hour.
4. Need Them in 8 Hours – Transfer the strawberries from the freezer to the fridge and let them sit for 8 hours.
When thawed, strawberries release juice and are not as firm as when fresh. The freezing process expands the water in them and bursts the cell structure, so when they are thawed, they are slightly mushy, but they will still be delicious.
Wash and dry the strawberries and chop off the top leafy part. Transfer the berries to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the puree into small freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to a year. Thaw the puree overnight in the refrigerator or over the counter for 3-4 hours and use as desired.
You can freeze these strawberries for a year in the deep freezer. The less moisture in the bag, the better it is.
Usage Suggestions
Use the frozen strawberries to make smoothies or milkshakes like
- Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie
- Strawberry Lassi
- Strawberry Banana Kiwi Smoothie
- Strawberry Banana Spinach Green Smoothie
- Korean Strawberry Milk
- Strawberry Banana Milkshake
- Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
Make desserts like Strawberry Cobbler.
I also make Strawberry Sauce or Strawberry Jam and serve them with crepes, pancakes, or waffles all year round.
My Strawberry BBQ Sauce is also a great sauce to make using frozen strawberries.
Use them to make Strawberry Overnight Oats or Smoothie Bowls.
You can even use it in cocktails and mocktails like Strawberry Margaritas, and your guests will surely wonder where you got the strawberries from. Haha, it happens to me all the time.
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How to freeze strawberries
Instructions
- Start by washing the strawberries. It is highly recommended that you wash the berries before freezing to remove dirt.
- Discard the berries that are soft and squishy.
- Take a large bowl filled with water and add ½ cup of white vinegar to it. Soak the strawberries in this mixture for a minute. The dirt will settle down. Do not soak the berries for longer than 1 minute; otherwise, they will lose their flavor and quality.
- Gently remove the strawberries from the top of the water and spread them on an absorbent tea towel. Air dry for 40-60 minutes.
- Now chop off the top with the leaves from the strawberries and remove any blemishes if they have them.
- Note – Some people hull the strawberries, that is, remove the white part using a pairing knife, but I never do that and still get perfectly frozen strawberries.
- Note – At this stage, you can cut the strawberries into half, puree them, or chop them into small pieces.
- Arrange the strawberries on a baking tray in a single layer. Ensure the strawberries do not touch each other on the tray to avoid clumping.
- Note – You can also line the baking sheet with parchment paper so the strawberries will not stick to the sheet.
- Freeze for 6-8 hours until each strawberry is frozen.
- Collect the frozen strawberries and put them in a zip-lock bag. Seal the bag and freeze the strawberries until you want to use them.
- Tip – Use a straw to remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag to avoid the formation of ice crystals. It’s also good to label the bag with the date of freezing.
Just when I was thinking of finding a way to freeze the season’s last lot of strawberries, this pops up in the newsletter. Thanks for sharing this important information in such a detailed fashion with so many options too!