Can You Freeze Strawberries?
So, as the title suggests this blog discusses ways to freeze strawberries. But, is it good to freeze them or should you use the raw? Do they get mushy after freezing or stay fresh?
There arise a lot of doubts when you try to think about freezing fruits and berries. So here we are back again to help you through the process. Well if you are confused about whether or not to freeze strawberries, you can freeze them.
By the end of this blog, you will have a detailed process of freezing your red berries, storing them properly, and some delicious recipes to try with them. Keep scrolling to know more.
How Can You Freeze Fresh Strawberries?
There are different suggestions and opinions from people around the world on freezing fresh strawberries. Many suggest that freezing the ones that are at the peak of their freshness should be avoided.
While others claim that you can still freeze fresh ones for some duration. To understand this process better, let’s get to the basics. Strawberries are one of the most used berries in the world.
They have proven benefits in weight loss and immunity development. Strawberries are power-packed with all the essential nutritional elements like vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. They are refreshingly good for your skin and overall health.
According to research by FDA, you must eat raw strawberries within 3 days of purchasing them. However, on the other hand, if you freeze strawberries, they can last for almost a year.
Thus, many people prefer to freeze them for using them later on. Follow the steps mentioned below to freeze your berries appropriately.
Steps to Freeze Strawberries
Willing to know how to preserve the fresh and original flavor of your berries for months? Follow these steps in the exact way they are suggested to get the best results!
Pick the Best Berries
Often you’ll witness different varieties of strawberries in the market. Some are sweeter and larger while others have a mild sweetness and are pulpier than the rest. If you are thinking of preserving berries for over a year, pick berries that are raw and aren’t entirely fresh.
Cleaning Strawberries
Cleaning is the basic and essential step when it comes to freezing fruits or vegetables. While cleaning, you have to be aware of removing all the dirt particles and weeds, if any. Start by transferring strawberries to a large bowl and wash them in the sink by running under tap water. You can also use a sieve or other mesh-like container to wash the berries and let go of the excess water.
Then, in a separate bowl add sufficient water to dip all the berries. Shift the berries to the bowl and allow them to sit for one minute. This will help to get rid of any excess dirt particles. To make this process more effective, you can add ¼ th cup of vinegar to the water to increase its acidic pH. After soaking the berries for one minute, remove them and spread them over a kitchen towel or paper napkin. Pat them dry and let them dry at room temperature for an hour at least.
Chopping
After the strawberries are well-dried you can start to chop the green leafy part of the berries. Get rid of that leafy part from all the berries. If you insist on using these strawberries for cakes or smoothies then you freeze them as a whole. However, if you are willing to use them for pie crusts or as cake toppings, you can slice them in half. You can make different sizes of strawberries as per your recipe.
Flash Freezing
After chopping strawberries, lay them on a lined baking tray for flash freezing. Do not overstuff the tray and keep spaces in between. Also, do not stack layers of berries in one setting. Freeze berries for a minimum of 4 hours.
Transfer into airtight bags: Grab some zip lock bags and shift the frozen strawberries to the airtight bags or containers. Before transferring the berries into the bags make sure they don’t have any traces of excess water drops.
Freeze Strawberry Bags
Once you add labels to ziplock bags you can freeze them for 12 months. This marks the end of the process.
How to Freeze Strawberry Pulp?
Strawberries have a plus point in store. You can freeze their pulp as well! Strawberry pulp comes in handy when you wish to prepare jams or as a topping on pancakes. So here’s what you can do to freeze the strawberry pulp.
- Prepare Strawberry Pulp: In a pan, add washed strawberries and sugar in equal amounts. Keep the flame medium-high and cook the mixture till the sugar dissolves. Keep mixing continuously. Then crush the berries using a potato masher or a simple fork. Crush the berries evenly till you get a fine consistency.
- Transfer the Pulp to Airtight Container: Transfer the pulp into an airtight container after the pulp cools down completely. You can use mason jars made with glass to extend the shelf life of the pulp.
- Freeze the contents: Shift your jars filled with pulp directly into the freezer. You can freeze this pulp for three months without worrying about any damage.
You can use the frozen strawberry pulp for the preparation of jams, sauces, smoothies, yogurt dips, etc. in the future.
How Long Can You Freeze Strawberries? Tips to Follow While Freezing
Strawberries are delicate fruits and you must eat them within three days. They tend to turn mushy and lose their original flavor quickly. To avoid this from happening, you can freeze strawberries for long-term use.
However, when freezing you must remember that frozen strawberries can turn mushy as well. Though they might not lose their flavor, they can surely lose their texture. It is possible to freeze them for six months to over a year with proper use.
Tips to Follow:
- Always clean the strawberries before freezing them.
- Always dry the strawberries before freezing. Do not freeze wet strawberries or else, they’ll go bad in a few days.
- Add labels to ziplock bags before freezing.
- Use the frozen strawberry pulp after thawing it overnight in the fridge or the microwave at short intervals.
- Do not thaw whole strawberries or sliced strawberries if they are going in the cake batter. It is because they’ll eventually thaw in the baking process.
Recipes With Frozen Strawberries
You can prepare delicious desserts all year round with frozen strawberries. Here are a few recipes to try:
Strawberry Sauce
This is the easiest go-to recipe to garnish your homemade or store-bought ice creams, cakes, etc. In a bowl, make a slurry of cornstarch and water. In a pan, add frozen strawberries, sugar, and cornstarch slurry. Cook all the ingredients for 5 to 6 minutes on medium flame. Break the strawberry chunks with a fork. Turn off the flame once the flavors are well-absorbed and the sauce thickens. You can blend your sauce for an extra smooth and glaze-like consistency.
Strawberry Mousse
To prepare the mousse, you will need thawed frozen strawberry pulp, fresh strawberry slices for topping, whipped cream, sugar, and vanilla essence. In a bowl, start whipping your cream, sugar, and vanilla essence. When the cream starts to gain stiff peaks you can fold in the thawed strawberry pulp. Now, take separate glasses or bowls to line your mousse. Add the base add the frozen strawberry pulp, then add layers of strawberry mousse. You can top it with fresh strawberry slices.
Strawberries are the ultimate sweet and soft berries that are the best ingredients for all dessert recipes. You can try the recipes mentioned above or try others out of your personal recipes. Follow these steps to get the best-frozen strawberries every time.