Learn how to freeze strawberries and preserve your fresh strawberries for smoothies, baked goods and other strawberry treats year round.
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Here is why you need to freeze fresh strawberries:
- Strawberry season is short! Support your local PYO farm and local economy by supporting them during strawberry season.
- Know your source! See above. By knowing where your strawberries are coming from you will connect with your community and have an appreciation for what going into growing the food we love.
- Enjoy delicious strawberries that are red from edge to center throughout the year.
Ingredients needed:
- Strawberries – fresh is best. Make sure they are fully red before picking, blemish free, washed and stems removed.
How to freeze strawberries whole
- Pick strawberries – pick them from your local farm, support a local farm stand by purchasing pre picked. The berries need to be fresh.
- Wash the berries – I will wash strawberries in a clean sink filled with cool water. The dirt will sink to the bottom.
- Dry – dry the strawberries on a clean kitchen towel.
- Remove the stems and hull from the berries with a small sharp knife.
- Place the berries, cut stem side down in a single layer on a silcone sheet or parchment paper lined baking sheet pan.
- Freeze – freeze the strawberries overnight or until completely frozen through.
- Store – store frozen strawberries in an airtight container, be sure to remove as much as air as possible.
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips for freezing strawberries:
Why do you need to pre freeze strawberries before freezing them.
To easily separate your strawberries after freezing you need to pre freeze them. If you freeze fresh strawberries they will squish together and become a brick of strawberries.
Do you wash strawberries before or after freezing?
I wash strawberries before freezing. This way they are ready to go for your smoothies and other strawberry treats.
How to do you hull a strawberry?
I use a small pairing knife to slide under the green stems and leaves. Use a 45-degree angle cut to remove the strawberry hull. Leave as much of the red berry intact.
Why do the strawberries need to be dry before freezing?
Be sure to towel dry the strawberries to remove as much as water as possible before freezing. Any leftover water will form ice and make the strawberries mushy and watery when they thaw.
Recipes that use frozen strawberries:
- Strawberry Rhubarb Jam – This strawberry rhubarb jam recipe can be made with fresh or frozen rhubarb and your choice of fresh or frozen strawberries.
- Strawberry Simple Syrup – This two ingredient strawberry simple syrup recipe perfect for adding to cocktails, sweetening iced tea or adding to fresh lemonade.
- Strawberry Rhubarb Cast Iron Crisp – My mouth-watering strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe is easily made with minimum clean up in a cast-iron skillet.
- Strawberry Topping – This strawberry topping recipe has 4 simple ingredients and can be made with either fresh strawberries or frozen strawberries.
- Strawberry Soup – Strawberry soup is a summer favorite that can be made with fresh strawberries in the summer or frozen strawberries all year long.
- Strawberry Jam – Homemade strawberry jam made with sure jell. One of my favorite ways to preserve fresh strawberries.
- Strawberry Vodka – This recipe for homemade strawberry vodka is a must for every summer cocktail list.
How To Freeze Strawberries
Learn how to freeze strawberries and preserve your fresh strawberries for smoothies, baked goods and other strawberry treats year round.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups strawberries fresh, washed, dried
Instructions
- pick strawberries from your local farm, support a local farm stand by purchasing pre picked. The berries need to be fresh.
- I will wash strawberries in a clean sink filled with cool water. The dirt will sink to the bottom.
- dry the strawberries on a clean kitchen towel.
- Remove the stems and hull from the berries with a small sharp knife.
- Place the berries, cut stem side down in a single layer on a silcone sheet or parchment paper lined baking sheet pan.
- freeze the strawberries overnight or until completely frozen through.
- store frozen strawberries in an airtight container, be sure to remove as much as air as possible.
Notes
Why do you need to pre freeze strawberries before freezing them.
To easily separate your strawberries after freezing you need to pre freeze them. If you freeze fresh strawberries they will squish together and become a brick of strawberries.
Do you wash strawberries before or after freezing?I wash strawberries before freezing. This way they are ready to go for your smoothies and other strawberry treats.
How to do you hull a strawberry?
I use a small pairing knife to slide under the green stems and leaves. Use a 45-degree angle cut to remove the strawberry hull. Leave as much of the red berry intact.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cupCalories: 46kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 17IUVitamin C: 85mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Sarah Mock
CEO/Owner/Founder/Culinary Blogger
Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 12 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
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