How to Freeze Strawberries
You can do it in 3 easy steps.
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By Alice K. Thompson for Food Network Kitchen
Alice is a contributing writer and editor at Food Network.
Nothing beats the flavor of peak-season strawberries, and freezing is the easy, economical way to preserve them for up to 6 months — almost long enough to make it to next strawberry season. Freezing them couldn’t be simpler, so give it a try next time strawberries are bountiful at your supermarket, farmers’ market or pick-your-own farm.
Freezing superb at maintaining their flavor, but there is one caveat: Strawberries’ firm, bouncy texture will be lost. Freezing breaks down some of fruit’s structure, so the end result will be softer and juices will be released. But you’ll still have many, many delicious ways to use them. Read on to learn more. And if you're wondering about other ways to store strawberries, check out our story The Best Way to Store Strawberries According to Food Network Experts.
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How to Freeze Strawberries
You’ll get the best results from freezing your strawberries with a three-step process: Prep them, freeze them individually and then transfer them to containers to store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Here are the details:
- Prep the Strawberries: Rinse the berries very gently under cold running water. Drain them and pat them dry. Use a paring knife to remove the green stem from each (this is known as “hulling” them). Halve, quarter or slice the berries depending on their size and your preference. Freezing berries whole is also an option, although they’ll take longer to thaw and you may have to cut them later, when they’re soft, which can be a little messy.
- Freeze Them Individually: Freezing the berries in a single layer ensures they won’t stick together in one hunk. Spread the berries out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Place the sheet pan in the freezer until they are solid, 1 to 3 hours depending on the size of the pieces.
- Transfer and Store: Transfer the berries to resealable freezer bags or airtight containers; if using bags press out as much air as possible. Resealable and reusable freezer bags are a great space-saving option as they can be stacked side-by-side or in flat layers. Label and date the bags and use the berries within 6 months.
Can You Freeze Strawberries Paste Their Prime?
It's always best to freeze berries that look plump and are at peak ripeness and freshness. If you know you won't use them in 3 days it’s best to freeze them the day you pick or buy them. But that doesn't mean you should toss any that don’t look perfect. Pick out the berries that look lackluster and cut off any brown or moldy portions. Cook them down into a strawberry sauce to be used in a yogurt parfait, as a sauce for ice cream or drizzled over pancakes or waffles. You can freeze the sauce for up to 6 months as well.
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How Do You Thaw Frozen Berries?
You can defrost frozen strawberries for several hours or overnight in the fridge. You can also place an airtight bag or container of frozen berries in a bowl of cold water and leave them to defrost for 30 minutes to an hour or more depending on the quantity. And finally, you can microwave the berries: Place them in a microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle with a small amount of water, cover with a paper towel and microwave in 30-second increments until they’re thawed. Note that microwaving will heat the berries, so they’ll be softer than they might be from other defrosting methods.
How Do You Use Frozen Strawberries?
The texture of thawed berries won't be the same as when they were fresh. Freezing breaks down the cell walls of fruit, so they’ll soften and release juices during thawing. They’ll still be excellent in cooked foods like jam, sauces and many pies and cobblers. And they’ll be great over yogurt or ice cream and in oatmeal. But perhaps best of all: You can toss them into blender drinks like smoothies or coladas right from the freezer — they’ll be better than fresh in these!
Recipes to Try with Frozen Strawberries
Renee Comet
Using frozen strawberries in smoothies is ideal. You’ll get all the flavor of fresh strawberries and a deliciously thick and icy texture to your drink as well.
Photograph by Philip Friedman
What could be better than sweet, scarlet strawberry margaritas? If you don’t have fresh strawberries for the garnish, just hang a thin lime wheel over the edge of the glass instead.
Just two ingredients go into this rich and creamy “nice cream”: frozen bananas and frozen strawberries. No added sugar and no added fat, just refreshing, naturally sweet flavor.
Matt
Frozen berries are ideal for jam making. This version pairs sweet strawberries with tart rhubarb for a bright, spring-like jam that’s perfect on toast, pancakes, waffles or French toast or over desserts like ice cream or pound cake.
Frozen strawberries will cook down just as nicely (and probably quicker) than fresh in this delicious sweet-and-salty dessert. The berries are layered parfait-style with a cream cheese filling and crunchy pretzel crumble in these individual trifles.
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