Freezing Fresh Strawberries (a Simple How-To)
The best and simplest method to freeze strawberries so you can enjoy fresh produce all year long.
Table of contents
❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
- Enjoy ripe strawberries all year. The best thing about this recipe is that the strawberries will last for up to six months in the freezer. That means you can enjoy strawberry season all year long.
- Easy to do. If canning is overwhelming, you’ll love this simple process.
- Versatile. Use your frozen berries in smoothies, strawberry shortcake, pies, and anything else you can think of.
🧂 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.
All you need are strawberries!
🥣 Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment paper
- Small knife
🍴Instructions
Step One: Prep the fruit
Prepare the strawberries before freezing, taking care to wash and dry them gently. Let them air dry on a clean towel. If you flash freeze them when they’re wet, you’ll get ice crystals. Use a small paring knife to remove the stems and green tops from the strawberries.
Step Two: Flash freeze
Freeze the strawberries on a large baking sheet until firm. Spread the whole berries in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Before proceeding, the berries must be frozen solid. They should make a sound when knocking into each other.
Step three
Place into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Gently push out any extra air using the top of the bag. Suck out any trapped air by inserting a straw into the zip end and removing as much air as possible.
🥫 Storage instructions
They can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.
When you’re ready to use them, they can be thawed in the fridge overnight or in a bowl of water for about 15 minutes.
🔍 FAQs
It’s not a good idea to freeze strawberries with the hulls on. The water in the green stem and hulls will cause freezer burn. And it will be annoying to remove them before eating.
Yes! Frozen strawberries are a great way to enjoy out-of-season berries.
Simply place them in the fridge overnight and they’ll be thawed and ready to eat in the morning. If you’re in a hurry, you can place them in a bowl of water for about 15 minutes.
👩🏻🍳 Expert tips
Try to get them somewhat flat in the freezer bag to maximize freezer space.
Don’t skip the step of sucking out the air! The more you can remove, the less freezer burn your strawberries will have.
📘 Related Recipes
📖 Here’s the recipe
Freezing Fresh Strawberries
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- paring knife
Ingredients
- fresh whole strawberries
Instructions
- Prep the berries. Gently wash and dry the strawberries. Remove the hulls and green tops with a small paring knife.
- Freeze on baking sheet until fully frozen. Spread berries in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Berries need to be very hard before proceeding.
- Freeze in freezer bag. Place in a gallon-sized zipper bag. Close the top, gently pushing out the air. Insert a straw into the edge of the bag and suck out any excess air.
- Store. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Notes
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.