I love to have blueberries available all year long for use in muffins, cobbler, pancakes, cakes, etc. So each summer, I freeze a large batch of them for use during the year.
Most years, I pick my own. My schedule doesn't allow that this year, so I was thrilled when my neighborhood grocery had an amazing sale on blueberries! I bought 8pints!
Freezing them is very easy. Don't wash them. Just spread the blueberries out on a large rimmed baking sheet (be sure to use a rimmed sheet!). This pan is about 11x17 and it holds 3 pints.
When they're spread out on the sheet, you can easily find the ones that still have little stems attached, are squished or are possibly moldy, and then remove them (either the stems or the whole berry.) This is less likely if you have picked your own, since you probably picked them cleanly and didn't squash any!
Put the pan in the freezer and allow to freeze for about 3 hours minimum. When frozen, scoop them into a zip top freezer bag.
Now you have lucious berries to enjoy all through the winter. That works for me!
Get more great tips at Kitchen Tip Tuesday.
I do this too -- but I wash mine first. Is there a benefit to not washing them first??
ReplyDeleteI get better results from not washing first - find that they don't stick together as much once they're in the bag. I wash them before I use them. If you've had good results with washing them first, I'd say keep doing it!
ReplyDeleteWashing also makes the skins more tough when you use them. Blueberries are on the "clean 15" list (least amt of pesticide residue), so you're safer not washing these than many other berries. Picked 30 lbs in the past week and a half at our house! Woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteI had a neat experience with blueberries. My husband and I became beekeepers about three years ago. In passing, I watched a field about two miles from our home and imagined our bees working the field. We stopped to pick berries today and I was telling the owner about our bees. She loves honey, so we made a trade. A pint of honey for a gallon of berries. Bluesberries are 80% dependent on honeybee pollination to make fruit. So it was beyond a win-win for all involved.
ReplyDeleteSara,
ReplyDeleteSo glad to come across your blog! I see lots of great recipes I want to try!!
I thought it was funny that I did a post about freezing blueberries on my blog on the same day you did yours!
I do wash my blueberries first, but I let them get very dry before freezing them.
Here's my post, if your're interested:
http://mealplanningwithconnie.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessing-of-blueberriesblueberry-banana_21.html