Freezing your strawberries is a nice way to enjoy the sweet taste of fresh strawberries for long immediately after their ripe duration has passed. There are many ways you can use to freeze your fresh strawberries to use or eat after some time. You can either freeze sliced plain or whole strawberries without clumping them using a baking sheet.

You can add simple syrup or sugar to the strawberries if you want a sweeter version of strawberry. Let’s look at how to freeze strawberries:

  1. Wash Your Strawberries

Before hulling and slicing the strawberries, make sure you place them inside a colander then wash them using cold running water to get rid of dirt, chemicals, and pesticides. Ensure that the water is getting out from the lower side of the colander and don’t let them soak for an extended period as this will make them become soggy making them lose their flavor.

Once done with cleaning them, pat them using a different tea towel to get rid of excess moisture. Alternatively, you can air dry them for 30 minutes.

  1. Hull Them

It’s essential to remove the hulls immediately you rinse them or else, you will be at a high risk of getting soggy strawberries. Therefore, use a small paring knife then cut a circle on the leafy stem on top of each strawberry. Make sure you angle your knife on the middle side of the strawberry as you cut. Then use your fingers to pull away from the leaves or position the knife beneath the leaves as you pull up to get rid of the hull.

Also, you can use a straw to properly the hull.  To remove it, stick the straw on the small pointed side of the strawberry. After that, push across the strawberry to make the straw push the strawberry hull on the opposite side. Do this to all the strawberries.

  1. Cut the Strawberries into Small Pieces

This process is optional but when planning to use sliced frozen strawberries or if you wish the strawberries be pre-cut, make use of a sharp knife to cut them to your desired size. But if you wish to freeze them whole, skip this step.

  1. Now Spread Them on a Baking Sheet

Once done with cleaning, hulling, and slicing them, spread your strawberries on an extended baking sheet. Do this properly to ensure that the strawberries aren’t touching each other. Doing this keeps them away from sticking together in a single big clump.

Freezing the strawberries individually allows you to thaw them individually depending on your needs. Don’t forget to use a baking sheet that properly fits inside your freezer.

  1. Position the Baking Sheet in Your Freezer for 2-3 Hours

Try to position the sheet inside the freezer in a level way to prevent the strawberries from sliding on each other. Leave it inside the freezer for three hours until the strawberries are solidly-frozen.

To confirm whether the strawberries are solid frozen, press one of the strawberries gently with your finger. When it remains firm against the pressure, then freezing is done.

  1. Shift the Strawberries on Plastic Freezer Bags

Once the strawberries on the sheet are properly frozen, take out the sheet from the freezer. Then move them in plastic freezer bags immediately to prevent them from melting. Then seal the plastic bags then return them to the freezer to keep them for the future.

After that, record the date on the freezer bags to help you know the duration under which the strawberries will keep.

  1. Lastly, Store Them Safely For Up To 6 Months

Before you feast on the strawberries, have a look at the date that you recorded. After 6 months, be sure to discard them.

How to Freeze Strawberries with Syrup

  • Start by making a homemade syrup. To easily make homemade syrup, mix white granulated sugar and water in a saucepan then allow the mixture to boil for a while. After that, allow the mixture to cool down for five minutes to allow the sugar to dissolve, stirring frequently with a spoon or whisk.
  • Next, chill the syrup in a freezer. Immediately the syrup has cooled, pour it on a bottle or a glass jar then place it on a freezer for three hours to give the syrup some time to get chilled.
  • As the syrup is cooling in your freezer, be cleaning your strawberries through placing them on a strainer. Make sure you wash them using running water but don’t soak them as you might end up losing their taste.
  • Next Hull the strawberries then slice them. Take each strawberry then remove the hulls by pinching out the little green stem. Use a knife to facilitate this process. Once done that, use a knife to cut them into halves or thin slices. But if you wish to use jam-like strawberries, use a potato masher to crush them.
  • Once you finish crushing the strawberries, scoop them in a large-sized freezer-safe container. But if you lack such containers, use other smaller containers.
  • Now remove the chilled syrup from the freezer then pour 120 ml of the syrup to every two cups of the strawberries. Do this until the container is full and ensure the strawberries submerge completely in the syrup.
  • Next, add some flavored extract to boost the taste (this is optional). However, to top up an additional flavor on the strawberries, add 1 teaspoon of the additional flavor like vanilla, or orange zest to the strawberries in the syrup. As the strawberries freeze, they will absorb the extract resulting in an interesting and unique flavor later on.
  • You can also use spices if you want. Cardamom and cinnamon, for instance, taste nice on frozen strawberries with syrup.
  • Finally, once all the containers are filled with the mixture and you’ve added your desired flavors, seal the tops tightly then put the syrup strawberries in your freezer for future use.
  • Freezing them in sugary liquid assists the strawberries maintain their shape and color while sucking more sweetness from the syrup.

What is the best way to freeze fresh strawberries?

Strawberries can be frozen whole, sliced or crushed, and with or without sugar. For whole, unsweetened berries, first freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Doing so will keep them from getting stuck together later on. Once they’re solid, place in freezer containers or bags.

Do you have to wash strawberries before freezing?

First, clean your strawberries.

When you‘re getting ready to freeze your berries, rinse them under running water (don’t soak strawberries to wash them — it can cause the berries to lose some of their natural flavor). Afterwards, cut off the stems of your strawberries and discard them.

How do you freeze strawberries without them getting mushy?

Freeze your strawberries in a single layer on a baking sheet before moving them to containers. Big clumps of frozen berries will defrost unevenly, making them more prone to mush. Wash your strawberries before freezing. This will remove any potential mold or bacteria that would help your strawberries break down faster.

Can fresh berries be frozen?

How to Freeze Berries. Berries freeze well and can be used frozen for smoothies or thawed for use in baking and sauces. When thawing, berries tend to lose their shape as well as some of their juice, so place freezer bags of berries on a baking sheet or in a bowl to thaw in case the bags leak.

Should you wash raspberries before freezing?

Do you wash raspberries before you freeze them? Yes, we recommend gently rinsing raspberries prior to freezing them.

How do you wash raspberries without getting soggy?

Plus, excess water droplets will remain in the package after washing and can cause berries to get soggy. Instead, fill a large bowl with cold water, then gently place the berries in a colander and dip it in the water bath. The result is an even wash that protects the berries’ flesh.

Do fresh raspberries freeze well?

Raspberries can be stored in the freezer for up to 12-18 months, which means you can keep them on hand all year long! Frozen raspberries are perfect for making a delicious smoothie, topping cereal or granola, baking pies and more.

What’s the best way to store raspberries?

Store raspberries dry and in the container in which you bought them (or if they are from the garden, in a breathable container). Avoid keeping them in the coldest part of your fridge (usually in the back) or in the crisper. The best place in your fridge is where you’ll see them best, thus not forgetting them.

How do you preserve fresh raspberries?

Keep raspberries in a box with holes and cover with plastic wrap, or put in a plastic bag with holes. Keep fruit away from raw meats and meat juices to prevent cross-contamination. Use fresh berries within 1 to 2 days. Store canned berries in a cool dry area for up to one year.

How long do berries last in the freezer?

How Long do Frozen Berries Last? Frozen berries will last for up to 3 months when tightly sealed in freezer safe containers in the freezer.

How long do fresh strawberries last in the freezer?

How long do whole strawberries last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for about 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only – strawberries that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.

How long do frozen fruit last in freezer?

Fruit can be frozen for around 8 months.

It can last for longer if it has been unopened. Its life also depends on its best by date at the time of freezing, how it was prepared, and how it is being stored.

Do frozen strawberries go bad?

Frozen strawberries that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely, as long as they have been stored properly and the package is not damaged.

Does freezing strawberries eliminate bacteria?

Frozen fruit is thoroughly cleaned, washed and flash frozen within hours of being harvested. Once frozen, no bacteria can grow but, contrary to popular belief, freezing does not kill bacteria or viruses.

Do strawberries last longer in a Ziploc bag?

For longer lasting strawberries, the key to longevity is the freezer. Instead of washing your berries, freeze them on a covered baking sheet (wax paper or plastic wrap works) for a 3 to 4 hours. Take them out and then place them in a Ziploc bag for long-term storage.

Why do frozen strawberries smell bad?

So there seems a chance that the strawberries really were no longer frozen when you put them in your freezer. The time which it took the strawberries to freeze may have been long enough for them to start to rot, hence the bad smell.