Frozen blueberries are a delicious treat or a great way to store fresh berries. Simply place unwashed blueberries on a rimmed baking sheet. Then put this sheet in your freezer for 2–4 hours. Retrieve the sheet and transfer the frozen berries to a long-term storage container. Place back in the freezer until you need them again.
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How Do You Freeze Blueberries for Later Use?
Let’s walk through the simple steps of freezing blueberries. First, check to make sure you have enough freezer space. Next, spread out a single layer of fresh blueberries on a rimmed baking sheet. Slide this sheet into the freezer and leave it there for at least 2 hours.
- Freeze blueberries in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Fresh blueberries will freeze in 2–4 hours.
- Transfer frozen ripe blueberries to a container for longer-term storage.
At this point, the blueberries should be fully frozen and can be transferred to a long-term freezer-safe container. Zip-top freezer bags are ideal because they can hold several cups of ripe blueberries and help reduce freezer burn. Use these resealable freezer bags to safely store up to a gallon of blueberries in your freezer. You can also use a pint container made out of heavy plastic. Any airtight freezer containers will work though.
How Long Do Fresh Blueberries Last in the Freezer?
Frozen blueberries will last about 6 months. However, they can go bad more quickly if freezer burn sets in. Mark your blueberry container with the date they were frozen in permanent marker. This will help you track how long they’ll still be good.
- Blueberries will last 6 months in the freezer.
- Be sure to write the date you froze the blueberries on the storage container.
- Permanent marker works best for labeling containers of frozen blueberries.
There are two ways of marking the date with a sharpie. Either write the date that you stored the bag or write the date that you have to throw out the bag. Once you pick a system, you have to stick to it for everything you store. You don’t want to risk confusing throw out dates and stored on dates. This can lead to the consumption of spoiled foods which can cause serious health issues.
Can You Freeze Blueberries Without Washing Them?
It’s best to avoid washing blueberries before freezing them. However, they do need to be washed before they are used. Be sure to run your frozen blueberry clumps under cold water to rinse off any bacteria. This will also help to defrost the berries.
- It’s best to not wash blueberries before freezing them.
- Once you take your blueberries out of the freezer, wash them before eating them.
If you do wash them, don’t worry. The good thing about water is that it can be dried away. Dry berries thoroughly with a kitchen towel or paper towel before freezing them. This will prevent ice damage from occurring.
Does Freezing Blueberries Lose Nutritional Value?
Freezing will actually help blueberries retain most of their nutrients. You won’t see any noticeable loss of nutrients until the berries have been frozen for at least one year. However, since the berries will have gone bad long before this, there’s no need to worry.
- Blueberries won’t lose nutritional content to the freezing process until months after they’ve already gone bad.
- Freezing is the best way for fruits to retain their nutrients long term.
Generally speaking, fruit loses most of its nutritional content to blanching. This is when fruit is partially cooked in water. So long as you avoid doing this to your berries (like if you were making jam), your berries will be as healthy as ever.
Does Freezing Blueberries Destroy the Antioxidants?
If you’re freezing blueberries at home, you won’t lose any antioxidants. Antioxidants are fairly resilient to cold temperatures and your home freezer is not powerful enough to destroy them. You’ll have to reach much colder temperatures for antioxidants to be at risk.
- The antioxidants in blueberries easily survive the freezing process.
- Commercially frozen blueberries may lose antioxidants due to experiencing a more severe freezing process.,
However, blueberries that have been frozen by commercial processes may lose antioxidants. This is because commercial freezing can be especially severe. So it’s best to avoid buying pre-frozen berries if you’re hoping to reap the benefits of the antioxidants.
How Do You Freeze Blueberries Without Getting Mushy?
Freeze a single layer of blueberries on a cookie sheet or baking sheet. A rimmed baking sheet is especially useful to prevent the berries from rolling off. Then transfer the frozen berries to plastic containers or bags for long-term storage. Frozen berries won’t be crushed by the berries. Just always remember these tips:
- Freeze berries on cookie sheets with rims then transfer to resealable freezer bags.
- Frozen blueberries will last for 6 months in your freezer.
- It’s best not to wash blueberries before freezing them.
- Berries don’t lose any nutritional value to the freezing process.
- Freezing berries does not destroy the antioxidants.
With these freezing tips, you’re all set to deep freeze your blueberries for a few months. Try out frozen blueberries in things like smoothies or even a blueberry sorbet.
