Raspberries are in season, which means they can be picked fresh if you happen to be growing them. It also means they will be in abundance at the grocery store. If you’ve ever picked fresh raspberries or blackberries, or bought them from the store, then you know without a doubt that they do not stay fresh long.
So how are gardeners and produce shoppers supposed to get the most out of their efforts and money? Freeze the raspberries! Knowing how to freeze raspberries when you realize you won’t be able to use or eat them all in time will save you frustration and money!
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Why Freezing Berries Works Best
Preserving soft fruits, like raspberries, is best done through freezing. It’s quick and easy with no special tools required. In fact, all you really need is:
- Baking Sheet
- Freezer (shock!)
- Freezer storage bags or containers
- Strainer (I like this stainless steel one)
The ease of freezing berries makes this the simplest way to preserve them. Other options to preserve raspberries include making jams and jellies (even freezer jam) and making sauces. Freezing berries will also give you the most versatility in being able to use them later.
They could easily be pulled out of the freezer and tossed into smoothies, pureed into salad dressings, added to baked goods, or made into jams and jellies. Freezing raspberries really is a simple and easy way to keep these soft fruits on hand when they’re out of season.
How to Freeze Raspberries and Blackberries
Freezing raspberries and blackberries is fairly similar to how I freeze blueberries. The entire process will only take a few active minutes. There is some waiting here and there, but you can carry on about your business while the berries are drying and freezing. Here are the steps you need:
- Grab fresh berries, either from your own bushes or the store or farmer’s market. (We have both red and black raspberries growing in our yard, and so could you! Find out how to grow raspberries here!)
2. Wash the berries under cool water to remove any dirt. Also check through your berries to remove any that are beyond ripe and on their way to rotten.
3. Lay berries out to dry on a clean kitchen cloth. Leave them for 30 minutes to an hour. (Or longer if you get busy!)
4. Place dried berries on a baking sheet. For ease later, you can place a sheet of parchment paper down first, but this is optional. Place sheet of berries flat in freezer and leave for several hours or overnight.
How to Use Frozen Raspberries and Blackberries
You can use frozen raspberries and blackberries in most baked recipes or smoothies. There’s no need to defrost them first, since they will lose some of their texture after freezing. Simply add them to the recipe and keep moving.
Frozen raspberries are also perfect for sauces and jellies.
Recipes for Frozen Berries
Here are some of my favorite recipes for using frozen berries:
- Easy Raspberry Sauce
- Raspberry Crumble Bars (Pinch of Yum)
- Frozen Raspberry Pie (Like Mother Like Daughter)
Raspberry Freezing FAQ’s
- Can you eat frozen raspberries without defrosting? Absolutely! On hot summer days, my kids enjoy eating frozen berries straight out of the freezer.
- How do you thaw frozen raspberries? If you need to thaw them before using, place them in a colander and run cool water over them until they are at the desired temp. Leave them to drain in the colander or place them on a clean dish cloth to remove excess moisture.
- How long will frozen raspberries last? I would use them within one year. So ideally, you’ll use last year’s harvest just in time to add fresh berries to the freezer from the current year.
How to Freeze Raspberries
Knowing how to freeze raspberries and blackberries will save money and frustration as these fruits tend to spoil quickly. Save your hard grown (or bought) berries by freezing them to use later!
Materials
- Baking Sheet
- Freezer (shock!)
- Freezer storage bags or containers
- Strainer (I like this stainless steel one)
Instructions
- Grab fresh berries, either from your own bushes or the store or farmer's market. (We have both red and black raspberries growing in our yard, and so could you! Find out how to grow raspberries here!)
- Wash the berries under cool water to remove any dirt. Also check through your berries to remove any that are beyond ripe and on their way to rotten.
- Lay berries out to dry on a clean kitchen cloth. Leave them for 30 minutes to an hour. (Or longer if you get busy!)
- Place dried berries on a baking sheet. For ease later, you can place a sheet of parchment paper down first, but this is optional. Place sheet of berries flat in freezer and leave for several hours or overnight.
Recommended Products
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Amazon Brand - Solimo Freezer Quart Bags, 120 Count -
PaperChef Culinary Parchment Multipurpose Non-Stick Paper, 205 sq ft -
Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet (2 Pack), Silver -
PriorityChef Colander, Stainless Steel Kitchen Strainer For Washing Rice, Pasta And Small Grains, 3 Quart